InspiredByGod: Extend Grace

I saw someone offer this advice to someone else via Facebook a while back, and I was in awe of the power that seemed to radiate from just two words. Extend Grace. Two words - it seems simple enough, but in actuality it's probably one of the biggest struggles of the Christian life today. Don't ask me why. Christ extended His Grace to us, so I will never understand why we find it so hard to extend Grace to others. I guess it all comes back to pride - one of the most destructive sins and one of the most successful tools of Satan.
One of my biggest pet peeves in school is on that first day of class, when the sophomores start ragging on the "lowly" freshmen. It gets under my skin, because just a few months ago they were that lowly freshman. They know what it's like. If you remember how miserable it was for you, then why do you want to be the source of misery for someone else? We, as Christians, are the exact same way. We know what it's like to be lost out in the world. It seems like you're all alone, nothing is ever good enough, you constantly feel as if you're being judged. So why do we want to make others feel the same way we once did? We are called be Christ-like. It's what being a Christian means, literally. Christ was all about Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, and Compassion... so why can't we offer that same type of love to our neighbors? Christianity has a negative reputation, because so many who profess to be Christians aren't living like it. And those who are Christians don't do anything but judge those who aren't. When we call ourselves Christians we are saying that we are like Christ, or at least striving to be like Him. So how does the way you're living reflect who Jesus is? Do you show the world that Jesus walked around with His chest bowed out, looking down on everyone around Him, kicking those who were already knocked down? Or do you show them the Jesus who showed compassion to crowds of people, extended grace to prostitutes, mercy to thieves, and love to murderers? He was the King of Kings, and yet He humbled Himself to the form of a servant and washed the feet of His very disciples. That is the Jesus I know, love, and serve. That is the Jesus I want others to see in me when I call myself a Christian. Will I ever live up to who Jesus was? Absolutely not. But I want to live every day of my life striving to be more like Him.
So what exactly does it mean to "extend grace"? Well to extend means to "cause to cover a larger area, or cause to last longer" and grace means "divine love and protection bestowed freely on people, the state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God, and an excellence or power granted by God." When I was reading these definitions 1 Peter 4:8 came to my mind, which reads "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." If you continue reading, verse 10 says "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." According to the definition of grace, we are granted excellence and power by God through His Grace. If His excellence and power is within us, then why is it so hard to offer it back to others? We need to use that power for love and service, rather than judgement and condemnation. Matthew 10:8 says, "Freely you have received, Freely give." You were freely given love, mercy, and compassion by Christ. Why not offer it freely to everyone you come in contact with? Don't ask questions or wait until you see what kind of person they are, just love them like Jesus!

As confirmation that this blog was "InspiredByGod" these are a few quotes that I coincidentally came across this week...

"A Pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a Spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself." -A.W. Tozer

I was reading a passage in my Bible the other day and I can't remember what the passage was, but it was talking about the "righteous" and the notes in my Bible made a point that really stuck with me. It said the author wasn't really calling these people righteous, because Romans 3:10 says "there is none righteous" and Romans 3:23 says "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." So when the Bible refers to someone as being righteous, it actually implies that they are being self-righteous. Therefore, a Pharisee is a self-righteous person, but a Spiritual man or woman acknowledges and makes it known that Christ is the only Righteous One.

"The Holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him." -Spurgeon

This quote says that the Holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness that remains within himself. It does not say that the Holier a man becomes, the more he condemns the unholiness of others. He is too saddened by his own unholiness to worry about the unholiness of others. Does this mean he doesn't care about leading others to Christ? Absolutely not, but he must get himself right with God before he can lead others to Him. It's like the verse that says, "Why are you worried about the dust in your brothers eye, when you have a plank in your own eye?" When you are focused on ridding yourself of your own unholiness, that is when you will set the greatest example to those who are lost.

"Have you ever considered that the area of the church which you are most critical of just might be the area in which you need to be serving?" -Mark Hall

I realize that this quote (though nonetheless powerful) does not directly relate to the main idea of this blog. However, if you look at it from a different perspective it makes perfect sense... Have you ever considered that the people you are most judgmental of just might be the ones you need to be ministering to? We need to build up the Church, not tear it down. So reach out to someone today that you would normally avoid. Start a conversation with someone you would normally just talk about behind their back. Be the change you wish to see in the world.