I shared a couple of weeks ago that I felt the Lord speaking to me about being a minister of grace. Too often, I think we can become ministers of judgment instead. Now, I am not suggesting that we compromise our beliefs or tolerate the sin around us or turn a blind eye. As Paul says in Romans 6:15, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not!” But what I am saying is that it is time for us to stop judging others and extend grace as it has been extended to us. We can all look around and see plenty to criticize, but our job is to shine the light of Jesus into those places.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the Lord requires of you: but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 5:8.
If we can practice this in our daily lives, I know we will have an impact for the Kingdom.
It’s not an easy thing to do. Our flesh fights against this approach. The world around us laughs when we try to walk in humility, and mercy is certainly not on the menu for today’s society. But that is what God is calling us to do.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each other.” Colossians 4:6
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:29-32
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all of these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
The recurrent theme in these scriptures is to remember that we are forgiven people and that the Lord has extended significant grace toward us even while we were far from Him. Strive to be more like Jesus and extend grace to those you come in contact with everyday. Let’s be ministers of love and light in a very dark world.
John Ohanian
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the Lord requires of you: but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 5:8.
If we can practice this in our daily lives, I know we will have an impact for the Kingdom.
It’s not an easy thing to do. Our flesh fights against this approach. The world around us laughs when we try to walk in humility, and mercy is certainly not on the menu for today’s society. But that is what God is calling us to do.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each other.” Colossians 4:6
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:29-32
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all of these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
The recurrent theme in these scriptures is to remember that we are forgiven people and that the Lord has extended significant grace toward us even while we were far from Him. Strive to be more like Jesus and extend grace to those you come in contact with everyday. Let’s be ministers of love and light in a very dark world.
John Ohanian
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