Tag Archives: Grace

God’s Double Gift of Grace

Advent

November 30, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people,
   says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
   and cry to her
that she has served her term,
   that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
   double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
   make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
   and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
   and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
   and all people shall see it together,
   for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’ –Isaiah 40:1-5

I started my day scanning my emails. Several were contribution solicitations from charities, and some included the statement that for every dollar I donate matching funds would be provided. One would have been three times my gift. Later when I read the familiar scripture provided above and I saw in a new light the phrase that the Lord had paid double to cleanse Jerusalem of all its sins. I must confess I am a little cynical of groups trying to entice me to donate because the funds would be matched. Wouldn’t some entity that generous give the money anyway? And then I realize that is the point. Our forgiveness of sin as individuals and as a nation are undeserved gifts of grace with the Lord doing all the Lord can do to free us from trekking down the wrong paths.

That introductory phrase is followed by a voice crying out that we can help in the Lord’s work by clearing out everything that is proving to be a stumbling block to our full participation in the work God calls us to do. God’s forgiveness is grace and our understanding the gift of grace provides us with the motivation to do our part in spreading the love of God throughout our community, our nation, our world. In times like these, we need to answer that call with no reservations and with all the energy we can muster.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your loving gift of grace. Let it lift us to clear paths for justice and righteousness to flourish. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God’s Grace

Epiphany

January 16, 2020

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Paul seemed to have a special place in his heart for God’s grace, perhaps because he had experienced it so strongly in his encounters with God. He opened his letter with this or a similar phrase. The word is used 86 times in Paul’s letters and those influenced by Paul. Grace is the translation of the Greek word charis which is preeminently used of the Lord’s favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people*. My guess is that when Paul used grace in his salutations, he meant it to carry both the connotation of God’s gift freely given and Paul’s attempts to follow Christ’s example of grace freely given.

Merriam-Webster picks up this theme in its definition of grace. I was raised in a family that said grace at every meal in recognition of God’s gifts including the food we ate.

  1. Grace
    1. a beneficence or generosity shown by God to humankind
    1. a free gift of God to humankind for regeneration or sanctification, an influence emanating from God and acting for the spiritual well-being of the recipient
    1. a state of acceptance by or of being pleasing to God, enjoyment of divine favor
    1. a virtue or moral excellence regarded as coming from God:  a Christian virtue
    1. Grace :  God as the source of grace
  2. a short prayer either asking a blessing before or giving thanks after a meal*

We as a people are caught in a world that asks, “What is in it for me?” as we relate to others. We may forget that we have already received all that we need, God’s love. As we begin a new year, let’s all try to live in and through grace in all our relationships.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the gift of your regenerative grace. Let it flow forth from us in all that we do and say. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5485.htm
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/grace

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

The Gift of Grace

Advent

December 20, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. –Romans 1:7b

Grace is (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord’s favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is “always leaning toward them”)*. –From the Greek

This Greek word answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná (“grace, extension-toward”). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.

I love the image of God always leaning toward me, not just the fact that God is there for me but the idea that God is actively engaged in letting me know that God is near. It made me wonder what is my proper, or anyone’s for that matter, response to grace. If grace is a gift giving freely, we do not have a choice in God’s giving it, but we do have choices in what we do as a result of receiving it.

I have been exceedingly busy this holiday season and for the first time ever I sent money as gifts to my nieces and nephews. I guess I moved in that direction last year when I sent gift cards to some of them. My rationalization is that with money they can get what they really want rather than what I think they might want. I think God’s gift of grace falls in similar motivation. God created us with innate abilities that are routinely shaped by our environments and the needs of the world. I also think God created us with the idea that when we all coordinate using our gifts in positive ways, we move closer to God’s ideal kingdom.  With that in mind, though, I think God takes joy in seeing all the possibilities that may result from our maturation into using God’s gift of grace.

That said, we humans are capable of squandering God’s grace, keeping God at arm’s length or only seeking God’s guidance when we are desperate or turning our backs on God altogether. The riches of God’s grace come in regular communion with God who takes joy in our joy as we open our hearts to God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I make choices that are counter to all that is good and right for me as I engage with others in this world. Help me realize that my true joy is your joy and your greatest joy comes from my loving you and loving all your children. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5485.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Grace is Sufficient

Kingdom Building

October 26, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

Is Jesus saying there is no privilege in the Kingdom of God? That would be shocking news for those who self-identify the way they live as righteous for that is essentially what the Pharisee is saying. There is no mention of loving one’s neighbor, no mention of feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger or restoring the prisoner, and no concern for the health of others. The Pharisee does not refer to serving as a light to the world or being the salt of the earth. His prayer is very egocentric concerned with self rather than society.

In the USA society today, we seemed to have shortened the list of rules we must obey to be righteous. On average, Christians give 2.5% of their income to churches*. Adultery is so commonplace; one might think it was removed from the Ten Commandments. Everyone seems to be bent on finding the fastest and best way to make more money no matter who it hurts. We admire those who succeed. We surely do not call them thieves and rogues.

We would all benefit from time to time discerning where our money is being spent for that is where our hearts will be**. We might want to dust of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and search for its influence in our lives. The same could be said for Matthew 25.

The only privilege we need in our lives the the privilege to serve God. The grace of God is sufficient for our self worth.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we invest more in self rather than building your Kingdom ruled by love. Amen/

*https://pushpay.com › blog › church-giving-statistics
**See Mathew 6:21

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Grace and Faith

Kingdom Building

October 6, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:5-10

‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’ –Luke 17:7-10

Besides running our farm my dad pumped oil wells as a side job and was a custom hay bailer, all dirty jobs. Combine them and the grim gets worse. Hay bailing is summer work so add hot Oklahoma summers to that formula. Dad and my brother worked together most of the time, but it was not unusual for a neighbor or a neighbor’s son to work with them when the demands of the job required it. Our big meal of the day was dinner at noon. My mother, sister, and I spent most of the morning preparing that meal which required gardening, gathering eggs, feeding chickens, and milking cows. Part of the ritual when the men came in from the field was pumping buckets of water from the old hand pump that still worked in front of our house for the guys to clean up and cool down as much as possible before they came inside to eat. There was no order of privilege at the table as described in the scripture above.

Luke is describing reality in first century Judean and Galilee where slavery was still present even for the small farmer. This scripture is a continuation of a discussion on grace, God’s grace which cannot be earned. The scripture also continues the discourse on faith which is also described as a gift.

Christ’s call to us is not of this world where privilege exist, and worth is based on the standards of the culture in which one finds themselves. Christ’s call, the call to base all measures of value on love comes packed with the gifts of faith and grace to sustain us. We need nothing else. If we are called to bale hay, we do it the very best way we can. If we are called to gather eggs, we try never to drop any. If we are called to do justice and show mercy, we do them using the gifts of faith and grace freely provided for us. When we recognize that we are no better and no worse than anyone else, we can truly begin to love like Jesus.

Prayer: Thank you for the gifts of faith and grace, Lord. Help us to live lives worthy of your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God’s Gift of Grace

Kingdom Building

October 4, 2019

Scripture Reading:
2 Timothy 1:1-14

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us. –2 Timothy 1:8-14

The argument about works and grace should not be an either/or debate. Grace produces works and works validates grace. And yes, grace is a gift we cannot earn, given freely. Yet, how will others know about God’s grace through Jesus Christ, if they do not observe it in Christ’s followers?  How do Christ followers know about the needs of those who do not know Jesus, if we do not walk among them and with them? How do we know about Christ’s followers who are being oppressed unless we stand beside them and do God’s justice on their behalf?

This scripture is the source of one of my favorite childhood hymns, I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace, which is no longer in the hymn book used at my church. I do not know whether it fell out of theological or musicological correctness or failed to make the top ten list. It does harken back to a day when God was considered a mystery and thus there were some things we could not explain. Perhaps the time has come to recognize God’s grace once again as mystery to mimic.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
to me he has made known,
nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.

But “I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I’ve committed
unto him against that day.”*

Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for the grace of your love. Help us to grow into loving all your children and creation as you have loved us. Amen.

*First verse and chorus of I know not why God’s wondrous grace by D. W. Whittle, see at https://hymnary.org/text/i_know_not_why_gods_wondrous_grace_to_me

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Believe and Trust

Lent
March 7, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:8b-13

But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
–Romans 10:8-10

I do not know why I get distracted by the word believe. Perhaps I have heard too many times people expressing beliefs about God that are foreign to me. It is as if our stating that we believe something makes it so.  I have heard people state that our diplomatic policy is based on believing and verifying.  I know I am arguing semantics, but I think it is important that we understand what Paul is saying in the scripture above that to truly relate to God we are not waiting for a final survey that proves us right or wrong but are accepting an absolute.

The Greek word pisteuó translated as believe here is the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of his soul”; thus it stands α. absolutely to trust in Jesus or in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something

I participated in a ropes course several years ago where participants were asked to cross their arms over their chests and fall straight-legged back into the arms of fellow participants who were serving as catchers. I did believe the catchers would do their job, but it took absolute trust to fall.

We live in a world where trust is sparse and even when we believe something, we are often skeptical. If ever there was a time for us to turn our eyes upon a Savior we can trust with all our minds, hearts, and souls it is now.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace**

Prayer: O Lord we cry to you as the father asking for his son to be healed did when he said: ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ (Mark :24) as we try to follow you in a world full of principalities and powers pulling us in every direction away from you. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm
**First verse of Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus by Lauren Daigle see at https://www.google.com/search?q=turn+your+eyes+upon+jesus+lyrics&oq=turn+you&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.1140995j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Grace is an Equalizing Gift

Lent
March 19, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
   call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
   and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts. –Isaiah 55:6-9

Will there come a time when the Lord cannot be found or when God is not near? If we accept the definition of sin as separation from God and that God will not move away from us, then this scripture suggests that we must think we can move beyond God’s reach. Such a way of thinking is human. God, however, does not think like that. It really is rather arrogant for us to even consider that we are beyond God’s reach. Indeed, it takes a lot of courage to turn away from such an ingrained mindset. God is the one who can enable such a transformation.

God was not joking when he stressed that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In trying to understand this whole white supremacist ideology, I can only conclude that some people do not love themselves well, if they primarily define their worth as it relates to being better than some other(s) whomever he or she or they might be. I have observed among friends and acquaintances that the worse legacy a parent can rest on a child is that the child is innately better than others. Why? Because the child can never live up to that standard and thus often becomes a bully to prove their supreme worth or develops a severe inferiority complex.

We are each called to pursue wholeness and to claim the full potential with which we were each created. As Paul says all have gifts differing*. While we are each unique and special, we are all equally blessed with the grace of God that completes us. Being made in the image of God is a gift; grace, too, is a gift and together they become the great equalizer that enables us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We all need to make sure we open and accept God’s gifts.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we pull away from you and seek definitions of our worth from the world. Help us accept your gift of grace. Amen.

*See Romans 12:6

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Gentleness

Advent
December 15, 2018

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There is an assumption in the phrase let your gentleness be known to everyone in this scripture that all possess some amount of gentleness. Someone posted a picture of one of my adult grand-nephews recently on Facebook. He is a good-sized guy, was a football lineman in high school, and now has a full beard. The picture is of him asleep lying back in a recliner with a tiny kitten also asleep on his shoulder her head resting on his beard. The picture is the epidemy of a gentle giant and assures anyone around that nobody is going to mess with that kitten. One of the images of God is the gentle Savior who is present with all the Lord’s children and other creatures too.

The Greek word translated gentle in the above scripture is epieikḗs* and it means justice beyond ordinary justice. It represents true equity that appropriately fulfills the spirit not just the letter of the law. Sounds like a good helping of justice served with a touch of God’s grace. Isn’t that what God wants, what we want for everyone as we gently serve as God’s hands and feet active in the world today?

Gentle Savior, lead me on
Let Your Spirit light the way
Gentle Savior, lead me on
Hold me close and keep me safe
Lead me on, gentle Savior**

Prayer: O God, Lead us into greater gentleness. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/1933.htm
**Chorus of Gentle Savior lyrics by David Phelps / Kyle Matthews / Greg Bieck © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group. See at https://www.google.com/search?q=gentle+savior&oq=gentle+savi&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.13560j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Fully Being Me

Living in the Spirit
November 9, 2018

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28

But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. –Hebrews 9:26b-28

I test as being highly intuitive and as a thinker rather than a feeler, which is an odd combination apparently. I can carry on lengthy discussions about theology or other things but when it comes down to the heart of any matter intellectual findings do not play as large a part of my faith as intuition. Thus, I do not invest much thought or time regarding life after death, heaven or hell. I somehow know intuitively that I will spend eternity with God in whatever form that will take and that is all that matters.

That said, I just as instinctively believe in some form of judgement based on being accountable to God for what I do with my life considering God’s purpose for my creation. I tend to think it is better to weigh and measure my progress routinely and incrementally while I can make course corrections when needed rather than to blunder through life unaware of my progress. Self-examination against God’s plump line as Amos describes it* is essential as we strive for what Paul calls perfection** and I like to consider as wholeness.

Hebrews as quoted above describes that experience as not dealing with sin but to fill in any gaps in our work on earth as we await the full fruition of God’s vision for all his children. The word translated as “save” means to properly, bring up to the goal (end point), i.e. carrying something through its sequence to reach its needed consummation***. It is the ultimate gift of grace.

Prayer: Lord, help me see and understand clearly as you hold me accountable for fully being me. Amen.

*See Amos 7:8
** See for example Romans 12:2, Phil. 3:12-21
***https://biblehub.com/greek/399.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.