Welcome back! Why
do you want God’s Grace?
He must be important to you in order for you to care about whether or not
you are in God’s “good graces.” When you accept God’s Grace, you become a
servant of God. That doesn’t mean you’re His prisoner, it means that He sets
you free from sin.
What are the
qualities of a servant of God? How do you recognize them? Paul tells the
Corinthians that people who want God’s Grace are a different breed than
others. They possess righteous qualities, and yet are proud to endure all
unrighteousness.
Many times Paul
has accused himself of not being well spoken, but I have yet to see that.
Quite the opposite in fact. This chapter is one of particular eloquence.
Perhaps Paul was just a humble person, or maybe he just meant that TRUTH is
the thing that is so well versed. At any rate, you’re gonna love his
delivery today.
We then, as workers together with the Lord,
beg you also that you don’t receive the Grace of God in
vain.
(For He said, I have heard you in a time accepted,
and in the day of salvation I have helped you:
behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Isaiah 49:8
Okay, you asked for God’s Grace and He gave
it to you. Now it’s time to put it to use. Don’t take God’s Grace and do
nothing with it. When you accept His Grace, you’re receiving a gift from
Him. Put that gift to use in everyway that you can, and there are unlimited
opportunities if you look for them.
Never be offensive in any thing,
so that the ministry is not blamed:
But in all things we make ourselves worthy as the ministers of God,
in much patience,
in afflictions,
in necessities,
in distresses,
in stripes (beatings),
in imprisonments,
in tumults (attacks),
in labors,
in watchings (sleeplessness),
in fastings;
by pureness,
by knowledge,
by longsuffering,
by kindness,
by the
Holy Ghost,
by love unfeigned (genuine),
by the Word of TRUTH,
by the power of God,
by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the
left,
by honor and dishonor,
by evil report and good report:
as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known;
as dying, and, behold, we live;
as chastened, and not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
O you Corinthians, our mouth has spoken freely to you,
our heart is enlarged.
You’re not held back by us,
but you are hindered by your own emotions.
Now for a recompense in the same,
(I speak as unto my children,)
be ye also enlarged.
Don’t be unequally befriended together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship has righteousness with
unrighteousness?
And what communion does light have with darkness?
And what harmony has Christ with the devil?
Or what business has a believer with an unbeliever?
And what agreement has the Temple of God with idols?
For you are the Temple of the living God;
as God has said,
I will dwell in them,
and walk in them;
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
Exodus 29:45
Therefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate,
saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will welcome you.
And will be a Father to you,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.
Jeremiah 31:1
Revelation
21:7
