Defiantly, Unashamedly, Generously — Extend Grace Generously - Thursday
TODAY’S VERSE
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
Have you ever fallen asleep with the TV on, only to wake up at 2am with “Paid Programming” on the screen? Then you realize that this (whatever it is they’re selling) was created specifically to solve a problem you didn’t know you had? I have to confess, I enjoy small doses of infomercials purely for the sake of entertainment. Watching the actors can instantly boost your confidence in your own ability to do menial tasks. These companies rely on actors who make tasks like opening a jar, using a blanket, or even putting on socks look like the hardest job on earth — all to convince you that you need their product. Isn’t that wonderful? They created something for that very purpose!
Hopefully, you haven’t fallen victim to this kind of marketing. I’d like to think I would never purchase a product just because a TV ad told me to… but here’s my confession: There was a time back in college when I somehow ended up owning a Swivel Sweeper, a Microtouch Titanium Max, and a Snuggie all at the same time. Clearly, I had a problem!
The world has a massive problem, and it’s something much deeper than an infomercial actor having an issue with a hose sprayer. This problem is sin.
When sin created our separation from God, Jesus stepped in and gave His life for us! Jesus wasn’t a solution to our problem; He’s THE solution. It’s by God’s grace through the Person and work of Jesus that we are saved! And when we receive God’s grace, we learn something incredible: We get to join Him in extending His grace to the rest of the world. But sometimes, we forget.
We forget there are people in our world who are in the exact same position we were before we met Jesus. They don’t know God, and because of that, they live in the consequences of their sin. They’re without hope and walking towards an eternity separated from Jesus. Only if God created something just for the very purpose of reaching those people.
That’s where we come in. If you’re a follower of Jesus, that something is YOU! You were made alive in the waters of baptism, and you’ve been created anew for the purpose of good works! The most important of these good works is to reach a broken world with the same grace that saved you. It’s our only hope, and it comes from Jesus.
If you’ve been waiting for God to give you a nudge toward what you should do next, consider this the sign! Go! Walk in those good works God created for you!!
APPLICATION
Looking for an opportunity to extend grace to others? Go to southland.church/volunteer to explore the many ways you can serve inside and outside our church walls. Then fill out the form to get connected to a ministry leader at your campus.
PRAYER
God, show me someone today and every day who needs to know the hope of Your love and grace. Give me the boldness to walk in the good works You have created me for. Amen.