Show Mercy like Joseph Did                                   April 19, 2026

Recently I have had the opportunity to reflect on the life of Joseph, particularly his tremendous demonstration of mercy.  According to Bible Hub’s Topical Encyclopedia “Mercy, in the biblical context, refers to the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one’s power to punish or harm. The term is derived from the Latin “misericordia,” which means “pity” or “compassion,” and is closely related to the Hebrew word “chesed” and the Greek word “eleos,” both of which convey a sense of loving-kindness, steadfast love, and compassion.”

Joseph was despised by his brothers.  Originally they planned to murder him, but instead sold him into slavery.  Joseph then spent several years in prison, but eventually God allowed him to become the second most powerful man in Egypt.  Joseph was later tasked with protecting the Egyptian people from a time of famine that they would face.  This famine spread beyond Egypt and drove his brothers to come to Egypt to purchase grain; where unbeknown to them they encountered Joseph.  Being the second most powerful man in the country Joseph had the power to imprison or execute his brothers.  He could have sought revenge but instead he chose a different path.  When Joseph encountered his brothers in a vulnerable position he demonstrated extreme mercy.  At first he didn’t reveal his identity to them but ensured his brothers were fed while he tested their character, provided them with grain and secretly returned their money.  When Joseph receives his brothers on their second visit he reveals himself to them and wept openly before them, demonstrating his desire for a restored relationship and not retribution.  He drew them close, demonstrating that he didn’t want to be their ruler, but wanted them to be a family.  Joseph relieved his brother’s physiological burden of guilt by explaining what appeared to be a tragic situation was simply a part of God’s plan, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).  Joseph demonstrates that showing mercy enables us to look beyond the personal pain or injury we may have faced and instead heal broken relationships and preserve life.

Like Joseph, God expects us to show mercy in our daily lives.  We should treat mercy as a proactive approach to alleviate the suffering of others or withholding punishment for those who have caused us offense.  God has provided us with the greatest possible example of mercy in Jesus who taught us in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  Our Heavenly Father has forgiven our greatest debt, that of our sin and has restored our broken relationship with Him. Thus we need to show similar mercy to others in our lives.

In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Jesus teaches that demonstrating mercy through forgiveness should be a limitless habit, not a one-time transaction (Matthew 18:21-35).  When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone for sinning against him, Jesus replies, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Mercy requires us to show care and compassion to the vulnerable.  In the Parable of the Good Samaritan,the Samaritan provides physical care and financial support for a stranger who had been severely injured by others (Luke 10:25-37).  We are also challenged to show mercy to our enemies. Paul instructs us, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans 12:20).

Jesus spoke of mercy in the beatitudes, where He states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).  Our Heavenly Father has been very merciful to us.  Today, we have an opportunity and obligation to make mercy a daily habit in our lives.  Showing mercy will allow the love of God to be demonstrated through our lives.

Kevin Pickles

One Generation Away From Ruin                          April 12, 2026

How many generations does it take for a faithful group of people to fall away from the LORD?  For Israel, it only took one.  We might think that after God delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, gave them a land to dwell in, and drove out their enemies, the people of Israel would remain faithful.  For a time, around the life of Joshua, they did (Judges 2:7).  However, soon after, the generations that followed did not know the LORD or the work He had done for Israel.

Why did the generation closest to direct contact with God not know or serve the LORD?  Judges reveal that Israel failed to eliminate Canaanite influences and gods from their lands (Judges 2:1-2), which led them to abandon the LORD and pursue other gods (Judges 2:12).  They allowed external worldly influences to corrupt them.  Instead of removing these people and their teachings, they coexisted with them and intermarried (Judges 3:6). 

As a church, we face the challenge of living “in the world but not of the world.”  We cannot completely avoid contact with sinners (I Corinthians 5:9-10), but we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by them as the Israelites were.  I believe we sometimes underestimate the world’s influence on us, thinking it is not inherently harmful.  This mindset is precisely what led Israel into trouble, as tolerating the world resulted in their spiritual decline and abandonment of God.

We should also be alarmed at how quickly the offspring of a faithful generation abandoned God.  It can be easy to assume that the children of faithful people will also be faithful, but in this case, that was not true.  While we cannot force people to obey God, we all have a crucial responsibility to train the younger generations (Deuteronomy 6:7), something Israel perhaps failed to do.  Instead of blaming one generation for its unique failures, we should focus on fulfilling the intergenerational instructions found in I Timothy 5:1-2 and Titus 2:1-6.  This way, with God’s help, we can avoid becoming one generation from ruin.

By Spencer Clark

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ                                 April 5, 2026

The resurrection of Jesus Christ shatters expectations.  The women who arrived at the tomb anticipated finding His lifeless body.  Even His closest followers, the apostles, initially dismissed the reports of His resurrection as utter nonsense (Luke 24:11).  No one seemed prepared for the very event Jesus had foretold.  He had explicitly told His disciples, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22).  He spoke of completing His work within three days (Luke 13:32) and informed the twelve that He would be killed, only to rise again on the third day (Luke 18:33).  Why then were His disciples so perplexed and frightened by an event Jesus Himself had predicted?

The answer unfolds on the road to Emmaus.  Two disciples, grappling with the day’s earth-shattering events, were walking towards the village of Emmaus.  Jesus Himself joined their walk, yet they were prevented from recognizing Him.  He inquired about their conversation, and they recounted the confusing events of the early morning.  They were troubled and confused about what had taken place.  Jesus rebuked them, saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25).  The disciples struggled with belief.  Later, as Jesus stood among all the disciples, He questioned them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts” (Luke 24:38)?  Luke notes that they still “disbelieved” (Luke24:41).  It was this crucial moment that Jesus strengthened their faith, reminding them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled…thus it is written, that the Christ must suffer and on the third day rise from the dead” (Luke 24:44-46).  What was their reaction?  More fear?  More doubt?  More disbelief?  No.  Luke records that they “worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God” (Luke 24:52-53).  They finally understood.

What about us?  Do we grasp the profound significance of the first day of the week, so long ago?  Jesus spoke of more than just His own resurrection.  “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).  Jesus poses the same question to us as He did to Martha:  “Do you believe this?”  What is our response?  Doubt?  Fear?  Unbelief?  Or are we filled with the same great joy, continually blessing God?  Our answer reveals the depth of our understanding and the transformation His resurrection brings to our lives.  May we respond with unwavering faith and overflowing joy.

By Jay Taylor

Your Identity in Jesus Christ                                         March 29, 2026

            Do not forget these words:  You are not who people say you are and not even who you feel you are!  You are who God says you are!

            Fewer things in life shape a person like the words used to describe them.  I will never forget the first time someone called me a preacher.  I almost panicked and was visibly shaken by those words.  I will always remember being told that I was a loser and would never amount to anything.  Words have a way of changing the way we see ourselves that is both good and bad.

            To make matters worse, we cannot unheard the things that people have said about us, but we can choose to replace those words with what God says about us.  As soon as you can, take some time and meditate on these passages.  Each one speaks powerfully to your identity in Jesus Christ.

            You are royalty (I John 3:1-2).  In this passage, we see our new standing given to us in Jesus Christ.  You are a Child of God, who has been lavished with all of His love and blessings.  Do not ever accept that you are anything less than royalty, meant to rule this life as conquerors (Romans 8:37).

            You are righteous (II Corinthians 5:21).  Maybe people do not see you as special, as this great, holy Christian.  Perhaps you don’t see yourself as some great Christian.  Perhaps you’ve had a long history of being less than Christ-like (join the crowd), but God looks at you and says that you have become His Righteousness.  He sees you as special, righteous, and holy.

            You are wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13-16).  When God looks at you, He sees you as beautiful and perfect in every way.  You do not need to impress anyone with your looks or accomplishments.  You are His creation, and that makes you the most important person in this world.  Do not let anything take that away from you.

            You are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).  Heirs to God’s Kingdom (James 2:5), and have been given every Spiritual Blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  You have been gifted and empowered by God (I Peter 4:10-11) so that you lack nothing in this life.  You have everything needed to be a great Child of God (II Peter 1:3-4).

            You are invaluable in Christ, not because of what you have done but because of what Jesus did for you.  When it comes to understanding and owning your identity in Christ, the biggest roadblock will be your own feelings.  Just remember …You are not who people say you are!  You are not who you feel you are!  You are who He says you are!

By Jeff Arnette

Are You Concerned About the Future?            March 22, 2026

It was Jesus who described the final judgment and discussed the right hand and left hand of the Judge of all mankind.  It is truly the most sobering thought that you and I will be there and hear the judgment given as to where we shall be forever and ever.

Every person who has ever lived will be there, for the graves will have been opened.  The Judge said, “The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29).  Paul described it, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body” (II Corinthians 5:10).

The universe, the heavens and the earth will have ceased.  Their time of existence will terminate on that Day of Judgment (II Peter 3:7).  This is the day “…in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

The judgment will take place, and like a shepherd in ancient days separated the sheep from the goats in his flock, so the Shepherd will separate the righteous from the ungodly.  You and I will be placed with the righteous “sheep” on His right hand or the unrighteous “goats” on His left hand.  The final judgment will happen in this way.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 25:34).  His final message to those on His left hand will be, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).  You and I will hear one or the other of two sentences – “Come, you blessed of My Father,” or “Depart from Me, you cursed.”

The reality of this time should impact every decision we make and the basis on which we make them.  Nothing in this material world will matter, for none of it will exist when time ends.  Most people you know think about their future, and they only focus on and value these temporal things.  Many have elevated their judgment about how to live each day, but the only truth about the future is the truth from God.

You and I have a view of the future, but we must realize the truth about the future is found in the God of truth.  One truth cannot be changed.  You and I will without any doubt experience it.  “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).  Think soberly about the closing words of Peter’s second epistle, “Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness!” (II Peter 3:11).

Think soberly about these words!                               By Dan Jenkins

A Bad Bargain                                                                              March 15, 2026

          A Sunday school teacher asked her class if they could give Bible examples of anyone making a bad bargain.  The first said, “Esau made a bad bargain when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.”  Another said, “Judas made a bad bargain when he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.”  A third said, “Ananias and Sapphira made a bad bargain when they lied about the price of their land.”  A fourth said, “Jesus said it is a bad bargain when a man gains the whole world and loses his own soul.”

          We might add another to the above list by observing that it is a bad bargain for you and me to trade our hope of heaven for the pleasures, riches, power and glory of this world.  Jesus was shown all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and told he could have all these if He bowed down to Satan.  Jesus knew that would be a bad bargain.

          What kinds of bargains do we make?  Do we trade the worship time for a few hours of sleep?  Do we trade Christian service for idle pleasures?  Let us not trade Heaven for anything!        John Wright                                                                                          

A Congregation of Addicts

          There was a family in Corinth that is mentioned in First Corinthians that is of particular note.  It is the household of Stephanas.  Paul taught and baptized this great family.  What a blessing they became!  They were wonderful helpers to the apostle.  Stephanas supplied a service when it was needed most (I Corinthians 1:16; 16:17).

          This man and his family were so zealous for the Lord and so close to the Master that it was said of them that they addicted themselves to the ministry (I Corinthians 16:15).  Addicted?  What a wonderful term to describe their love and service to Christ.

          As I considered this statement, I thought about the great work being done by Christians who are addicted to the work of the church.  Let us get into the work of the church where we are with all our hearts, so that folks, seeing our good works, can say that we are a congregation of addicts addicted to the Word and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.        John Wright

A Difficult Life?

          Life seems hard at times.  Things don’t seem to go as we want.  Problems arise that become mountains looming before us.  At such a time, we know God is with us to strengthen and support us.  Talking to Him helps us carry our burdens.

          John, the Baptizer went to live in the wilderness of Judea, an inhospitable terrain inhabited by wild beasts.  His clothing was made from animal skins, and his food was locusts and honey gathered in the wild (Matthew 3:4).

          The Word of the Lord came to him there; not telling him of a softer life ahead, but telling him of a great work that had been prophesied by Isaiah (40:3), Malachi (4:5-6) and others.  The work was to be very demanding, going against the religious thinking of the day.  He would have enemies and would finally be killed for his message (Matthew 14:10).

          Knowing how hard his life would be, he put his whole heart and strength into the task.  His was a work nobody else could do.  Your work and mine is a work nobody else can do – that of trying to convert our family members and friends.         John Wright

More Than You Bargained For                                      March 8, 2026

            As Martin pulled up to the garage sale, his eyes began to scan the merchandise.  This was a good sale and it would take more than just a few minutes to shop through the tables searching for treasure.  As Martin began to walk by each table, he looked at each item with interest, here’s an old Army canteen, a roll of weed eater string, and an 8″ crescent wrench.  But as he continued to go from table to table, he only discovered things that either he already had or just wasn’t interested in at all.  Just about the time he was about to give up, something caught his eye.  Over by the last table, sitting on the ground, half way under the table was a tackle box and as he got closer he could tell that it was practically new.  “This box for sale?” he asked the lady sitting at the small table and making little price tags with a magic marker.  “Yes, it’s for sale,” she answered.  “How much?” he asked.  Without hesitation the lady answered, “Three dollars.”  Martin dug into his pocket and pulled out a wad of crumpled bills.  He peeled off three ones and handed them to the lady.  “Thank you” she said, “I hope that you enjoy it.”  As Martin picked up the tackle box, much to his surprise the box felt as though it was full.  He opened the lid to discover that the box was brimming over with fishing lures, jigs, sinkers, and hooks of all sizes.  As he surveyed the collection of fishing gear, he asked the lady, “Madam, are you sure that you only want three dollars for this?”  “Yes, I don’t like to fish and it belonged to my husband who passed away, someone should get some use out of it.”

            After Martin got home he began to take inventory of his newly found supply of fishing equipment.  As he emptied out the box, there in the bottom was something that caught his eye.  It was a lure but not just any lure.  This was a Heddon Slim Body Minnow made in the 1930’s.  “Wow, some of these things are worth $100 or more!” he said as he examined the old lure.  Martin not only found a great bargain but he also discovered that he had received much more than he bargained for.

            When we first became Christians, we’re happy that we’ve found forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.  But it’s not until we really begin to live our faith that we find the hidden treasures in Christianity.  As we struggle from day to day to serve God we come to realize that the true blessing of life comes “both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3).  Just as Martin found a great treasure hidden in a three dollar tackle box, you and I can continually discover great advantages of being a Christian.  The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and for the non-Christian, a great hidden treasure is just waiting to be found and can be discovered among the pages of God’s Word.

            “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

By Jay Launius, Maud church of Christ

What Does It Mean to Obey God?                                                   March 1, 2026

Obedience is a real teaching of Scripture.  That may seem a bit obvious, if not trite, but we do live in a world that often finds the concepts of obedience and submission too authoritative, perhaps even oppressive.  Among those who claim to follow Christ, there are discussions about the extent of the necessity of obedience.  Must one obey to be saved? Or does obedience come after  the salvation?  Does obedience constitute meritorious works?  When we say, then, that we must “obey God” or “obey the Gospel,” what are we saying?

Let’s establish that obedience is, in fact, a vital teaching of Scripture.  There are many passages to which we may appeal, but consider these:

• “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (Jesus, John 3:36).
• “And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Peter, Acts 5:32).
• “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6:17).
• “And to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus…” (II Thessalonians 1:7-8).
• “And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).
• “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…” (I Peter 1:14).

Obedience is not just a passing thought or suggestion in Scripture, but an all-encompassing concept that puts faith and allegiance on full display.  Indeed, faith and obedience are integrally tied together.  For example, the Hebrew writer points out about the first generation of Israel coming out of Egypt: “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:18-19).  Notice the parallel between “disobedient” and “unbelief.”  In other words, as James said, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).  Disobedience manifests unbelief.

When Israel was told to love God with the heart ,soul, and might, this was said in a context in which they were to obey God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 6:1-9).  If they did not obey, they could not love God.  This shows us that loving God and obedience are tied together as is faith with obedience.  Jesus said it succinctly: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments (John 14:15).

To obey the Lord, then, is to act in faith to demonstrate love for the Lord.  It is not to accept mentally what God has done for us in Christ, it is to actively demonstrate our allegiance to all that the Lord desires for and from us.  Obedience is not merely an outward act that conforms to a command as if this id to be done coldly or without feeling.  Rather, obedience is a bending of the heart, a surrender of the will, to the mind of God.  The obedient heart becomes oriented towards doing the will of God to glorify Him.  As Paul said, we are obedient from the heart (Romans 6:17).  Obeying the Lord means our hearts are all in on what God wills from us.  This is more than just an initial obedience in baptism (though this is vital); it is a commitment we make that will impact the rest of our lives into eternity.  This is not done to earn salvation, but is a recognition of and appreciation for God’s grace (Titus 2:11-14).

If I regularly ran red lights because I didn’t want to stop, then I am a lawbreaker at heart.  If I stopped at a red light because I saw a police car watching when I otherwise would have run it, then I still haven’t really obeyed as much as I have acted out of convenience for myself to avoid an unpleasant result.  While that act technically submits to the authorities, it is not from a loving a pure heart.  True obedience would be stopping at the red light even when no one is watching because your heart won’t bid you to run it.

While we would not want the unpleasant outcome of disobeying God, the truly motivated heart of obedience acts out of love and a desire to please Him.  We are not just going through outward motions corresponding to an authoritative statement; we are bending our hearts and minds toward God by drawing nearer to Him through Jesus.  We love because He first loved us, and we obey because we love God.  True obedience is a privilege for which we are grateful, not a drudgery we barely tolerate.

John put it this way: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome” (I John 5:3).                                                                                             By Doy Moyer

Don’t Be So Insecure                                                               February 22, 2026

Did it cause the Pharisees to “do all their deeds to be noticed by men” (Matthew 23:5)?  It may have tempted Jeremiah to be afraid of the faces of those who he had to confront (Jeremiah 1:8, KJV).  It certainly led Peter, Barnabas, and the rest of the Jews in Antioch to stop eating with the Gentiles, “afraid of criticism” (Galatians 2:12-13, NLT).  The word “insecure” is not found in the Bible, but the idea is there.

Today, we are not immune to feelings of insecurity.  While the cause may be physical appearance, financial status, or the like, the effect very often is a temptation to compromise regarding what is right, conform to worldly behaviors, and cross Biblical lines to have the acceptance of people.  Do you remember how “many even of the rulers believed in (Jesus), but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43)?  Jesus warned against a mindset that sought to “receive glory from one another” instead of the glory that comes from God (John 5:44).

No one likes to be on the outside looking in.  We do not want others to look down on us.  Everyone experiences feelings of vulnerability from time to time.  How do we fight insecurity?  Consider a few Biblical tips:

• Never forget that you are an image bearer of God (Genesis 1:27)
• Remember how highly God thinks of you (Job 7:17; Psalms 8:4)
• Put your focus on serving others and thinking of them (Philippians 2:3; Mark 10:45).
• Make sure that you are exclusive or snubbing with others (Romans 15:7).
• Get your satisfaction and sense of identity most from your relationship with God             (II Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 5:10).
• Do not let the world define or be the measuring stick of success (I John 2:15-17).
• Understand how fleeting and fickle the praise and acceptance of man is (Hebrews 11:25-26).
• Remember that often the approval of man comes at the expense of God’s approval (Romans 1:32; II Timothy 4:10).

For our part, we should do what we can to make others feel appreciated, valued, and loved.  Such an outward focus goes a long way to a sense of fulfillment and security.  But, much of our insecurity will wane and fade the more we will concentrate on self-forgetfulness and sincere service!

(Author unknown)

Showing Grace                                                                            February 15, 2026

Over the past few months I have been praying to God to allow me to show grace to others, particularly one of our grandchildren.  We have been going through a difficult season with her which hopefully will only be temporary, but I have wanted to be able to show grace, mercy and love to her.

Many of us have been taught that the concept of grace is unmerited favor from God.  The word grace is often translated in the New Testament from the Greek word “charis“.  Strong’s concordance helps us to understand that “charis” refers to “God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.”, hence the concept of unmerited or undeserved favor.  When understanding grace, it may be helpful to also understand the concepts of justice and mercy.  Justice is the idea of getting what we deserve, payment or consequences for actions we have committed.  Mercy is the concept of not getting what we deserve or the withholding of punishment for actions we have taken.  Grace is getting what we do not deserve, or could never deserve, unmerited favor and help from God.  Grace is God reaching down to us, grace is not a reward for good behavior, but should be the motivation to help drive good behavior.

The Bible teaches us the following concepts about grace:

• Grace is totally free for us, but costly to God.  “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:24).  God’s grace to us is free.   However, there was a significant cost to God.  It required the death of His Beloved Son on the cross.
• Grace is sufficient or all we need.  “Each time He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Paul was inflicted with a “thorn in the flesh” and had asked God to relieve him of it.  Christ responds by telling him that His grace is sufficient to allow him to endure it.  Not only does God’s grace provide for our salvation, it also sustains us and allows us to endure the situations we will face in this life.
• Grace is transformative.  “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God” (Titus 2:11-12). The grace of God brings salvation and helps us turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.
• Grace is abundant.  We are told in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  Grace is not just simply merely enough, God’s grace is able to overflow in our lives allowing us to do great works for Him and His kingdom.

If we have received God’s grace the Bible teaches us that we are to be conduits of grace. Showing grace to others should be a direct response to the grace that has been given to us.  Some of the ways we can show grace to others are:

• We need to be willing to forgive others, even if they don’t deserve it.  We were shown forgiveness when we didn’t deserve it ( Ephesians 4:32).
• We need to be able to show grace through our words.  Our words need to be kind, helpful and uplifting.  See Colossians 4:6 and Ephesians 4:29.
• We can demonstrate grace through our reactions.  Our culture today often has us reacting in an “eye for an eye” manner.  Demonstrating grace though can turn this mentality of retaliation into a gift for a wrongdoing.  In the sermon on the mount Jesus used expressions like, if someone strikes you, turn the other cheek, if someone sues you and takes your shirt, then give them your coat as well  (Matthew 5:38-48).
• Demonstrating grace or unmerited favor on others is one way to stop conflicts.  Paul teaches us this in Romans 12:14-21 when he says. “Bless those who persecute you, do not repay evil for evil, if your enemy is hungry, feed them, etc.”

Perhaps the hardest lesson about grace I have learned over the last few months is grace will not always be accepted.  I have felt very sad and hurt that my grace has not been accepted.   However, that doesn’t mean I should stop showing grace.  Although God’s grace is available to all, it is frequently rejected.  In Matthew 23:37, Jesus shows His heartbreak for God’s offer of grace being rejected, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!”

If we are to show grace like God does then we need to remember that showing grace is less about the response of the recipient and more about the heart of the giver.   It can be very painful to have our “unmerited favor” rejected or ignored, especially by a loved one.  Our call to be givers of grace is not conditional on it being accepted. As we saw in Matthew 23:37 God’s offer of grace was rejected and Jesus wept at this.  When our grace is rejected we may be tempted  to stop reaching out or we may retreat into an “eye for an eye” retaliation.  I know when I feel this way I must rely on the promise that God’s grace is sufficient for us. By continuing to choose words that are kind and reactions that mirror God’s generosity, we reflect the costly, transformative love that first reached down to us when we had nothing to offer in return. Even when we face difficult seasons, we must remain motivated by the fact that we were shown grace and forgiveness when we didn’t deserve it.  And because of that grace we are called to continue to show grace to others.    

By Kevin Pickles