January 14, 2007
The Gift Of Grace
READ: Matthew 22:34-39
By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. —Ephesians 2:8
A woman told me that when she was growing up, the kids next door weren’t allowed to play with her because she didn’t go to church. Later, when she became a Christian and told her mother, her mom replied, “You’re not going to start acting like you’re better than all of us, are you?” That mom got the wrong impression of Christians from her neighbors.
It’s good to be vigilant about the influences in our children’s lives, but not at the expense of sharing God’s love with our neighbors. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-16 remind us: “You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We may feel a tension between living a holy, “separate” life (2 Cor. 6:17) and the great commandment to love our neighbor as much as ourselves (Matt. 22:39). But these two concepts don’t really conflict. A central part of a life of obedience to God is to show concern and love for the lost.
Since we did nothing to deserve salvation, we have nothing to boast of. Paul wrote, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Share this gift of grace with others!
To leave the crowd impressed,
But grant my life may ring so true
My neighbor may be blessed. —Anon.
