Calling Jesus x2, How I love calling Your Name. Everyday, Your Name is the same. We are going higher, we are going higher, we are going higher, higher, higher, higher, every day, exceeding grace! Serving the living God, Yes! Am serving the living God Amen.
Thank You Father for watching over us all through the week. Guiding and protecting us from every evil programed by the evil ones against us. We are grateful and we return to say Thank You.
Dear beloved, in God is our safety and trust. No one can be like our God Who watches over us and preserve us against the workers of iniquities.
Today, we are to read the ‘act of grace’. What God expects from you as His child. Jesus, our model, live it out and we are to follow Him as His disciples. Are you ready to step into the step of Jesus? In subsequent messages, we will discover the ‘act of grace by God’. Come as we read to live it out:
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.—Ephesians 4:32
The Book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is intentionally considering ways to meet other people’s needs.
Being tenderhearted means that we are keenly sensitive to the feelings of others. When a fellow Christian experiences sorrow, we grieve also (1 Cor. 12:26). When another believer is joyful, we, too, rejoice. Being tenderhearted means showing compassion toward those around us.
We show forgiveness because we, too, fall short of God’s ideal. Knowing that God has graciously saved us from destruction motivates us to forgive others when they offend us. Often we are less patient with our fellow Christians than we are with nonbelievers. We expect more of Christians, and we feel betrayed when they fail us. When this happens, we need to look closely at the cross and remember the forgiveness we received there. We must set aside the self-centered attitude that leads to impatience and criticism of others.
Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another (John 13:35). Are you constantly in conflict with others? Ask God to give you kindness, a tender heart, and a forgiving spirit. As you allow the Spirit to build these qualities into you, your life will be a blessing to others around you.
Another consideration about grace. A life experience of this author, read more:
Magnanimous And Gracious
The other morning I awoke with these two words on my mind. Within two hours I had several opportunities to have them tested:
- The hotel clerk failed to rouse Ruth and me for an early morning flight!
- Because the porter mistakenly went to the wrong room and awakened sleeping guests, I ended up struggling alone with our bags! (Ruth was having back trouble)
- The hotel overrode my earlier reservation for a taxi to the airport, thus charging me almost double for an expensive limousine!
- The chauffeur took us to the wrong airport!
- After I carefully placed my suit coat in the overhead compartment, someone threw a suitcase in on top of it!
After arriving home, I decided to look the two words up:
Magnanimous — “Manifesting generosity in forgiving insults or injuries. Not given to resentment, or envy. Greatness of soul. High-minded.” I was reminded of Uncle Abraham magnanimously deferring to greedy Lot in granting him the better land. (Genesis 13)
Gracious — From the Greek word charis, conveying the idea of being kind; seeking to bless others. The father was gracious to his prodigal son in prematurely giving him his inheritance, and in receiving him back after he had squandered it. (Luke 15:11-31)
In the heat of the moment, the test of true godliness is determined not by our actions, but by our re-actions:
“He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 27:17)
QUESTION – As we respond to life’s incessant and inevitable irritants, do our lost friends and associates view our re-actions as magnanimous and gracious? If we are serious about winning a hearing among them for the Gospel, that is exactly what they must be observing.
Am leaving you with these classical teachings on grace. Consider and apply it in your daily living. See you next week by God’s grace.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
