Giving Grace

I believe that most followers of Jesus Christ are thankful for the grace of God. Some of the most popular worship songs revolve around grace. Countless books have been written, poems inspired, and lives changed all because of God's amazing grace.

I'm not going to ask if you are appreciative of the grace of God. However, how good are you at giving grace?

Oswald Chambers said, "I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God." Is this statement true in your life or are you continually critical, judgmental, or condemning of others? Be careful: What you believe about the grace of God in others is the same way that you view His grace in your life!

Instead of being critical, why not take a stroll through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the rest of the New Testament to see what Jesus and the Apostles had to say in regards to how we view and treat others.

Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that you be not judged."

Matthew 7:3-5, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye..."

Romans 2:1, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

Romans 14:4, "Who are you to judge another man's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."

Jesus was very clear in regards to judging others. He said, "DON'T" Instead, why not be an extension of the grace of God to others. I understand that God's Word is very clear about how to handle those in sin (in the church), but if you will take a closer look you will see that God's plan is a plan of grace. It begins with a heart of compassion (to deliver someone) and ends with an acceptance through grace.

I'm amazed at our ability to RECEIVE grace without GIVING it!

We need to remember that the Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in the act of adultery but He did not condemn her. Instead, he said, "Go and sin no more." Should this not be the same attitude that we possess? We need to cultivate a temperament that is never critical. How do we do that? By seeing the other person through the eyes of truth. Where would we be apart from the grace of God?