The following are some thoughts shared with me about ones “ACT OF GRACE.”
They seem to be works that come from deep down and come forth.
They are giving someone words of encouragement. They are opening up your home and sharing meals. They are giving items others may benefit from.
They are simple things like having the church van to ride in and sharing fellowship meals.
They are helping the elderly and those in need with meals, rides, running errands, shopping and visiting. They are things that God instructs His to do for their brothers and sisters in need. They are things that we need to pray about and ask God to help us be more aware of so we can increase in our understanding of the grace He has given us and express this understanding through an “Act of grace.”
GRACE sometimes leads us to think that we don’t need to lift a finger and do anything in response to God’s grace that saved us but when I think of Jesus being lifted up on the cross for me so I could be saved it moves me to want to use my life as an “Act of Grace.” In a way I look at an “Act of grace” as a way to express my gratitude to God for what He has done for me. I also believe that it should be my desire to lift up my cross and faithfully follow Jesus.
Take a close look at 2 Corinthians 8:1-7
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this ACT OF GRACE. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you see that you excel in this ACT OF GRACE also.”
Did you notice what God’s grace produced?
“Abundance of joy…A wealth of generosity…Giving beyond ones means…Begging earnestly for the favor of taking part…Giving oneself to the Lord.
Consider Paul’s Appeal For Us.
“Excel is everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you see that you excel in this ACT OF GRACE also.”
About the author:
Don and his wife Brenda have been married 48 years. They have two married sons Jason/Crista and Nicholas/Heather and four grandsons Luke, Ryker, Blake and Drew. Don is a graduate of the Gateway School of Preaching, Fairview Heights, IL, the Bristol Roads School of Biblical Studies, Flint, MI and he has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Michigan Christian College. He has been preaching since 1979. He has preached at Pacific, MO; Howell, MI; Arnold, MO; Festus, MO; Dexter, MO; and De Soto, MO where he has served since 2007. He also serves the congregation as one of the elders. Don has done campaigns and meetings in several states and mission work in Cuba, India, and Jamaica. Don refers to himself as a “Minister” because he loves ministering to others and helping them learn about Jesus and growing in their relationship with Him.
De Soto church of Christ 