2 Cor 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace. All this leads to benevolence toward others. How do we excel in this act of grace? What pours out of our lives? How will we treat our husband, our children, our friends who are "missing" us in our relationships? Will we offer them grace?
I used to think that if you lived by the principles of God's Word, you would find that grace living. We better be living by God's truths but there is a Narrow Road and He beckons for us to follow.
A good friend took me aside and God opened a wide door in my heart through his words. Psalm 51:6 ~ Truth sinks. Excel in this faith not works. Excel in this speech not the perfect words. Excel in this knowledge not for here but There. Excel in earnestness for Him not for you. The motivations of our heart matter. Let Him reveal to you where you are. We are not human doers pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We are human beings desiring God and His Presence.
God stoops down to write in my sand, forgiven. God stoops down to make me somebody, Psalm 18:25. We don't have to look high to find Someone stooping to help us. Excel in this act of grace.
Two Words of Truth stood out to me today.
ReplyDelete1. Genuine love=excelling in the Grace act
Extending to others what we've already been given with a desire in our hearts, an excitement about the love, the grace, the forgiveness, the mercy, the joy we've been given--Grace upon Grace, His Hand extends across the earth. I love the question Bev asks to help examine my heart: What pours out of my life?
2. Stay the course and finish.
Now, finish what you start with that enthusiasm that you began with. (2 Cor. 8:11) I love something new in my life. A new mission, a new routine, a new place to focus my energy. Perhaps I love it for the change, for a fresh start, a do over, or even the challenge of something new. But our readings today encourage us to finish what we start, to see it through with the same DESIRE that we began with. Stay with it, renew our energy in Him, and show others that our love is genuine by staying the course.
Help us today to offer those in our path grace.
Bless the Lord this Sunday. Blessed Lord's Day to each of you.
And have a blessed birthday, Mary Lou. I am so thankful for your presence here on Pearls. Though we've never met face to face, your heart is so beautiful here. You bless me immensely. May the Lord bless you in your next year in countless ways.
Happy Happy Birthday Mary Lou,
ReplyDeleteYou have showed me His Benevolence in great measure and I've never seen your face. You are a very humble person. Thank you for your continual support and kindness and love to each of us here. Thank you for touching deep places in me and there are times you never even knew it cause you don't see my face. Love you my friend! Happy Birthday!
Thank you both for the kind words. You helped me to have a special day. You have both, as well as the others who share on here, added to my walk, knowledge and growth in the Lord. He taught me some deep things yesterday. Had to apply what I've been learning. Hard lesson but oh, so worth it. He is always faithful and always true and He is the only One who will never,ever fail us. Was wanting or needing some agreement in prayer from my husband about a family issue and we do not see things the same way....it hurt some but then praise the Lord He met me and I knew that I only needed His affirmation that what I was led to pray was what He wanted and that my prayers were strong enough by themselves because He was with me. I so sometimes want others to pray with me and have always valued strength in numbers of people praying with me, for me.....last night, He told me I was not trusting Him to not trust in just my prayers. Don't know if that makes any sense to anyone, it does to me. Just wanted to share that you all have helped me and He has used you and the reading the Bible and the sharing to encourage me and help me trust Him more.
ReplyDelete