Rachum Ve-Chanun, God merciful and gracious. Until we studied this in Knowing God by Name, I never fully understood grace. “Unmerited favor,” is the standard Christian-ese explanation. But what does it mean?
I love how the author (Mary Kassian) defines grace in relation to mercy:
“Mercy is being spared from ill that is deserved.
Grace is being gifted with good that is undeserved.”
Said even more simply, “Mercy is holding back what is deserved, while grace is giving us what we don’t deserve.”
I love also that the Greek word for grace charis is defined as “a favor which brings, delight, joy, happiness or good fortune.” He loves to give us grace! He loves to give us joy and delight!
Now, when I began to write this evening, I was led to meditate over the entry for “Our Daily Bread” from January 14. Stay with me here, as it appears on the surface to be unrelated.
In this devotional, the author discusses that we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit. The reading for the day is from Ephesians 4:25-32, wherein Paul directs us to put on the new nature. We are to stop doing immature things. What are we instructed to do instead? “29Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.”
We are often the means by which God Himself graces other believers. But we can only be a tool in His hand if we are obedient. If we are not compliant, He cannot use us. However if we obey Him in this command, we can extend His grace to another soul. We can bring His joy and delight to their hearts IF we use speech that is “good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others.”
I read another article today from a dear sister in Christ (http://www.bbmidlifewife.blogspot.com/), in which she discussed the scriptural mandate for choosing joy. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we see, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
According to the Ephesians passage, if we follow the mandate of 1 Thessalonians to be joyful, and express it to others we will extend God’s grace. However, sandwiched in between the directives to put away negative attitudes and actions, it says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…”
So the Holy Spirit is compelling us to be a blessing and give God’s grace to others, and if we choose instead to use foul, polluting language, evil words, unwholesome or worthless talk; or if we hold on to bitterness, indignation, wrath, and resentment then we grieve Him.
Oooo, ouch…there’s a lot of repentance in that sentence. Excuse me while I go take care of some personal business with the Lord….
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