Grace: Don’t Let Anyone Miss It
Grace:
Don’t Let Anyone Miss It.
We're continuing our conversation about our church culture and how that culture is developed by our belief in and obedience to the Word of God. So far we've talked about Honesty, Honor, and Gentleness. This week and next I'm going to focus on Grace.
There are two verses about grace that have stuck out to me. Both come from Hebrews. We'll talk about the first today and the second next week.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God - Hebrews 12:15
Just like most New Testament letters, this is instruction to a group of people, the church. This instruction comes after a flow of instruction about discipline (12:3-11). It concludes with the hope that discipline yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Verses 12-13 give instructions for a body to be strengthened and walk on straight paths so that the body will not be put out of joint but healed of its lameness. Verse 14 is clear enough, Strive for peace with everyone. Then comes verse 15, See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.
What if our church embraced the discipline because we longed for the peaceful fruit of righteousness? Then by this training, we strengthen the body, becoming further unified working for peace with everyone.
How?
By seeing to it that everyone knows the grace of God.
What would we look like if we "saw to it" that no one fails to obtain the grace of God? Here are two hypothetical situations that might demonstrate how a culture that sees to it that no one fails to obtain God's grace:
You're at the water cooler in the office and the conversation turns to how inconvenient living in a foreign country is and you feel that temptation to share your most recent story of cultural clash. To complain would only contribute to a "root of bitterness", but you are training to share in God's holiness (12:10). So, you ask yourself: what could I do to share God's grace? You recall his leading you here, his provision and promises and remember that your inconveniences are part of his training for you good. That grace changes what comes out of your mouth next.
Sunday morning your friend shares about difficulties that are challenging him and his family. You can relate to the difficulties and could share a story of your own challenges, when you think: How could I share the grace of God with this guy? You ask him if you could stop and pray for him and check in on him in the coming week to see how things are going.
By God's grace, together we will be an increasingly peace-pursuing, relationship-restoring church, extending grace quickly, set apart for his glory.