For
today I want us to look at scripture which explains more of God’s grace for
serving. I have taken a few (there are so many!) and tried to give a practical
way to look at this serving grace. There are many more scriptures but I am
praying that the ones chosen will be enough for you as we journey in grace land
and maybe your mind just went to another Graceland, but trust me, that is NOT where
I am going with this.
Don’t
you just love looking out the window as you drive down a country lane and
inhale the beauty of God and His creations? Consider this Grace to be a field,
full of trees loaded with fruit ready for you to pick. We could call it “Grace
Territory” if you please. It is yours for the picking!
1.
Grace in meeting the needs of God’s people
2Co
8:1-2 Moreover, brethren, we do you to
wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a
great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded unto the riches of their liberality
Our
church is called on weekly to supply the needs of people outside the church and
many times outside of the faith. God’s leaders must be very careful to not
abuse the church people and the monies of the church for wrong reasons but as
the need comes, God’s people can rally around, seek His face and then receive
the grace to get the job done. It takes wisdom and the Word of God to know
“how” sometimes. Maybe you are really good at sewing, cleaning homes, making
crafts, taking care of children, doing laundry, writing letters, fixing meals
or organizing any of these areas. God’s people have needs and you may be able
to exercise the grace of God in you to meet that need. Oh how precious are
those people who seek ways to help those in need. A caring and giving spirit
brings a smile to our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you one of those persons called on
to meet a family’s need as simple as one meal for the week, or to take care of
a child while sickness dominates that family, or are you afraid you just can’t
do it? Here we go….ask God for the grace to do what HE wants you to do! The
fruit of that tree will reproduce more than you ever dreamed!
2.
Grace to help in time of need in your own personal life or in the personal life
of another.
Heb
4:16 Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.
My
husband and I received three separate calls in the same day of people in our
church who had dire needs for the family. We listened; we prayed and asked God
to intervene in the lives of these lovely people and their families. Sometimes
you may not know what to pray or what to do, but that is when God steps in and
does what you cannot do. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t figure it out. You
are just like the rest of us. We all have to trust in that wonderful grace of
God and obtain mercy to be the instrument of God’s help as it flows through us.
Then…... just claim the truth of Hebrews 4:16!
3. Grace is to be received and used......Not abused!
1Pe
4:10-11 As every man hath received the
gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;
if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God
in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
None
of us have arrived, friend, and if we do anything worth doing it is only
because of God’s grace. I’ve seen people who have been blessed beyond measure
and then slowly, their heads swell with pride and they begin to feel like they
have had something to do with it and before long these dear people change and
shame rests at their back door. There will be a fall if the
foundation is not right! It is God’s grace, not your ability or my ability!
4.
Grace to Serve God Effectually by Teaching and Preaching His Word
Eph
3:7-8 Whereof I was made a minister,
according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual
working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is
this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ;
Heb
12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom
which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably
with reverence and godly fear:
Pastor
Andy is always asking us to pray for him to have utterance to preach to men as
they are. He works diligently at reminding us that it is God’s Work and
God’s Word. If there is any success in it at all, it is because of
God’s grace. Is there a need where you are? Are you willing to open the Word
and teach another as God’s grace is bestowed upon you? How many times have I
heard young men say, “I just can’t preach! I’m not smart enough, not educated
enough and besides, I’m scared to be in front of people.” Well, good! You are
the perfect candidate. Now, give up and let God take over. Don’t you just love
it when you witness people who you thought would never amount to a hill of
beans, come back around and they are on fire for the Lord! God created us and
He for sure can figure out what to do with us, if we will only realize that it
is Him and not us! Put God in the driver’s seat, move over and enjoy the ride
for heaven’s sake.
Now,
what are you waiting for…..?
Until
next time, Lord willing
Sharon
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