The Bible for Women

Weekly Devotional

Grace

Some dictionary definitions of the word "grace" include, " mercy, clemency, a favor rendered by one who need not do so. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."

God clearly gives us grace. Jesus gave grace while he walked on the earth. Remember the woman at the well. When we stumble and fail our brothers and sisters, when we fail God, we are reminded of our Lord's words in 2Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." If our God, continually gives grace, then what is our role in giving grace to others, especially those in the body of believers?

Many times we are hardest on our brothers and sisters in Christ. We cast judgement on them without all of the facts. We lose friends because we cannot forgive or because we do not show the kind of compassion that our Savior so freely gave while He walked here. I know I have had to repent of this very sin. And being unmerciful is a sin. Sometimes we expect people in the church to live to such a standard that we do not expect them to sin when the truth is that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" including Christians. In fact the rest of that verse refers to Christians, "and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Have Christians lied, gambled, cheated, stolen, gossiped, committed adultery, not provided for the families, not paid their taxes, exhibited rude behavior? The answer is yes. Should Christians behave in this way? The answer is no. And yet, when one of us sins, instead of embracing them in repentance, we condemn them, we talk about them, we spread rumors, we turn others against them, and for what?

1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." If God can forgive an adulteror after repentance, shouldn't we? If God can forgive a rude remark after repentance, shouldn't we? 2 Chronicles 30:9, says "The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him."

Micah 6:8 states, "He has shown you O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Are we treating others fairly? Do we have mercy on those who ask for our forgiveness? Do we walk in such a way that we think we have it all together? Do we think that every one around us is wrong and we are right? How do we treat others when they admit wrong, when they say they are sorry? Luke 6:36 says, "Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful."

We are to be imitators of Christ. Jesus rebuked the scholars who so often picked apart the scriptures trying to trap Jesus in some menial argument while Christ diligently preached, not only with words but by example, the two greatest commands on which all the law hangs: Love the Lord, and love your neighbor. Who is a good neighbor? Jesus agreed in John 4 that a good neighbor is "the one who showed mercy."

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:22-23

Have a great week. Margie