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8 July 2007
Ephesians 4 v 7-10
Christ gave each one of us the special gift of grace, showing how generous he is. That is why it says in the Scriptures, "When he went up to the heights, he led a parade of captives, and he gave gifts to people."
When it says, "He went up," what does it mean? It means that he first came down to the earth. So Jesus came down, and he is the same One who went up above all the sky. Christ did that to fill everything with his presence.
Jesus Christ has truly won the greatest victory the world has ever seen. He took a great victory parade up to the heights of heaven. But Paul is not talking about the fact that we are saved by God's grace here, but the grace that leads to gifts for ministerial work. Each of us within the church has a separate function. Christ's presence filters throughout the universe and has given each one of us a special gift which we are to use for the enrichment of the church. The aim of all this is nothing less than that the church should grow and mature until it expresses the wholeness of Christ in its life.
He has given each one of us very special gifts through his grace for this purpose. What is your gift; encouragement, patience, peace, joy? How do you use this special gift Jesus has given you? Do you use it or bury it in disbelief? The more we use this gift the more Christ-like in our character we become.
Grace is giving to someone who deserves nothing as though he or she deserves everything. How does this understanding of God's grace change your attitude and outlook in life? What good works do you see that God's grace has equipped you to do? If God has treated you with grace, how are you going to treat others who sin or make mistakes?
Lord Jesus, help me to admonish the gift of grace to my fellow brethren so that others may see a reflection of you within me in all that I do and all that I am.
Written by Douglas Cruz
Ephesians 4 v 7-10
Christ gave each one of us the special gift of grace, showing how generous he is. That is why it says in the Scriptures, "When he went up to the heights, he led a parade of captives, and he gave gifts to people."
When it says, "He went up," what does it mean? It means that he first came down to the earth. So Jesus came down, and he is the same One who went up above all the sky. Christ did that to fill everything with his presence.
Jesus Christ has truly won the greatest victory the world has ever seen. He took a great victory parade up to the heights of heaven. But Paul is not talking about the fact that we are saved by God's grace here, but the grace that leads to gifts for ministerial work. Each of us within the church has a separate function. Christ's presence filters throughout the universe and has given each one of us a special gift which we are to use for the enrichment of the church. The aim of all this is nothing less than that the church should grow and mature until it expresses the wholeness of Christ in its life.
He has given each one of us very special gifts through his grace for this purpose. What is your gift; encouragement, patience, peace, joy? How do you use this special gift Jesus has given you? Do you use it or bury it in disbelief? The more we use this gift the more Christ-like in our character we become.
Grace is giving to someone who deserves nothing as though he or she deserves everything. How does this understanding of God's grace change your attitude and outlook in life? What good works do you see that God's grace has equipped you to do? If God has treated you with grace, how are you going to treat others who sin or make mistakes?
Lord Jesus, help me to admonish the gift of grace to my fellow brethren so that others may see a reflection of you within me in all that I do and all that I am.
Written by Douglas Cruz
