Grace: A 5 Day DevotionalНамуна

R. Grace is a responsibility. 

Luke 12:48 KJV: "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

Luke 12:48 Amplified Version: "But the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating will receive only a few  [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."

GRACE is a responsibility - one that believers should both carry and expect other believers to hold themselves to. The responsibility of GRACE is to remember that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God but even in our shortcomings, we are justified freely because of GRACE and redemption through Jesus Christ. 

(Romans 3:23-24) 

How many times has someone spoken to you in a manner that seems short, dismissive, or even blatantly disrespectful? How many times did you allow the actions of someone else to take you out of character? This is where practicing the RESPONSIBILITY of Grace is necessary for most of our lives.  I can say I have failed in this area many times in my past. Being aware of it has made me more attentive to practicing the responsibility of Grace and doing unto others as I'd have them do unto me  (Matthew 7:12). 

Then I started asking the question how much different would the world be if we ALL truly treated others the way we want to be treated? This self-evaluation set me on a course to do better practicing the responsibility of GRACE.

In each of our lives, we can find ourselves overwhelmed with daily tasks and obligations. Going to work, school, caring for loved ones, running businesses, paying bills, and the many other things that require our attention. 

We do all of this many times while putting on “the face” so people aren’t aware of the stress of our lives or the strenuous circumstances that any of us could possibly be dealing with at home. Think about that for a moment. YOU know what you live with from day to day and the feeling of not having enough hours in the day to deal with it all can leave you drained.  

I started thinking of the many times I had to be somewhere, singing, ministering, performing, or just running an errand knowing that inside I was hurting, grieved, or upset and couldn’t say anything about it.  

People thought I was just an angry person when the truth was I was hurting and my soul was hemorrhaging. I was smiling outside and crying… whilst dying on the inside. Then I thought how many times was the look on my face, my actions, or tone of voice offensive to someone else who had no way of knowing how I was feeling or what I was going through? They couldn’t know. 

As believers, God gives us the opportunity every day not only to receive His Grace but to daily extend  Grace and turn situations like this into a God moment for someone who may really need it.  To whom much is given much is required. I started by telling myself when I’m offended by someone to be intentional, take a beat and then respond rather than react. Don’t react, respond. 

Just that one moment is enough time to choose how many of us respond to offense.  Until I was able to look at others and say I don’t know what kind of day he/she is having. I don’t know what he/she is living with if they are sick, just received bad news, or even going home to a difficult or abusive situation.  I didn’t fully understand the responsibility I have to offer GRACE because I have been the recipient of God’s grace more times than I can count. 

It changed me to think about it that way. It made me more understanding about the responsibility of  GRACE and how I have the authority to change a moment like that when it’s presented to me and remember the many times I was in that situation and feeling very alone, very broken, very hopeless, and very misunderstood by people who could only see the exterior of my life.  

Jeremiah 31:3 

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 

Freely He gave us GRACE. Freely He continues to give us GRACE. Self -Check moment. Are you doing the same for others or are you being selfish with GRACE when others need and should receive it? We say we want to be more like Jesus. We sing songs about it but do we really?  What are we doing intentionally to be more like Jesus? 

God offers us grace not because we deserve it. It's unmerited yet God still gives it.  Shouldn’t we do the same?

We have a responsibility to at the very least give GRACE not if someone messes up or offends us but especially when they mess up.

The RESPONSIBILITY of Grace lies on each of us. If you find this is an area you need to pay more attention to in your walk. I challenge you to make a decision to be intentional. Respond instead of reacting. 

Extend GRACE. It is our responsibility.