Posted on 07/23/2015 1:20:20 PM PDT by Gamecock
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:4
Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 1:4–9
Devotional
Do you thank God for the manifestation of His grace in the life of other Christians? Expressing gratitude for God’s grace in others immunizes you against the deadly poison of hatred, resentment and bitterness that so easily gets into our blood. When you are able to thank the Lord for His grace in others you have an effective defence against envy, gossip and slander; it becomes extremely difficult to hold grudges or to be rude, unpleasant and judgmental. Thanking God for others delivers you from selfishness and sinful human pride.
Our tendency is to find reasons why we shouldn’t give thanks for God’s grace in others. How different things will be in our lives when we recognize God’s work in the lives of others—when we realize Christ bled for them as well. Those who thank God for His grace in fellow believers will not get out the nails to crucify a brother or sister in the Lord.
The apostle is not suggesting that we give thanks for God’s grace in others because the church is filled with perfect people. If it were not for God’s grace in Christ it would be impossible to do anything together. Grace is never an excuse to ignore or brush over sin. We don’t take sin and sweep it under the church pews.
When you give thanks for others you will be set free from an attitude that requires everyone to be like you. Instead, you will want to be more Christ-like. When you give thanks for others, your children learn the largest lesson you could ever teach them; they hear what is on your mind and they learn how to speak about other members. Think of what it will do for children in shaping their attitude toward their peers, if they hear their parents thanking the Lord for the grace that is manifest in every believer.
Giving thanks for God’s grace in others is never easy because it puts a knife into our own proud hearts. Yet we need to make every effort to do so for the well-being of the whole church. Let us make it a regular habit to thank God for the evidence of His grace in the life of others. Every time we do it we are honouring the Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle is not suggesting that we give thanks for God’s grace in others because the church is filled with perfect people. If it were not for God’s grace in Christ it would be impossible to do anything together. Grace is never an excuse to ignore or brush over sin. We don’t take sin and sweep it under the church pews.
Evening Devotional Ping
Want on or off? Let me know!
FAITH!
I’m a Protestant...
This is a thread started for those who believe as I do..
TULIP
I see no reason to exclude any one from such a joyous discussion about the Grace offered and given us and our thankfulness for this grace.
I invite anyone join in. especially those who want to know more about the enrichment we can all have.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
“This is a thread started for those who believe as I do..”
I would hope it is also a thread for those who do not know as we know (and therefore believe) so that these other may also be enriched in God’s Grace given freely to them as well as anyone.
“Giving thanks for God’s grace in others is never easy because it puts a knife into our own proud hearts.”
I don’t understand the claim here.
How could it be anything but easy and why have proud hearts after being given Grace through absolutely no means of ourselves but solely due to God’s mercy.
I don’t understand the mindset being as described as being part of a regenerate heart in God’s Grace.
yes that could probably have been worded a little differently but if you read it as recognizing that others may have the LORD Jesus in their hearts too, are saved, born again, even if you think they don’t quite measure up to your standards, then you get the gist...
I think that’s what the author means..
Yeah.
It can be complex.
We fall in to this when we walk by sight and and not faith.
At the same time, how can we believe in the salvation of Benny Hinn and other out and out charlatans?
Do these fall in to the category of “I never knew you” or “if not against me, for me”?
Yeah.
It can be complex.
We fall in to this when we walk by sight and and not faith.
At the same time, how can we believe in the salvation of Benny Hinn and other out and out charlatans?
Do these fall in to the category of “I never knew you” or “if not against me, for me”?
Understood.
No.
It’s funny how much we want God’s grace for us, and want it from other people as well, but how reluctant we are to hand it out.
We make excuses and find reasons for why we should be exempt from the penalties for our own actions, as if we’re special and deserve special treatment, and yet demand justice for everyone else.
Jesus’ words of *Do unto others....* is so applicable.
But it can often be difficult to do.
as if we’re special and deserve special treatment, and yet demand justice for everyone else.
Jesus’ words of *Do unto others....* is so applicable.
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That is deep.
Ouch! I needed that. Thank you GC
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