Walking in Grace

We need a lot of grace at this moment in time. There is so much going on around us, that many of us are tempted to lay down the gift of grace, in exchange for the weapons of hate. If you are looking for a scripture to guide you into the rest of 2025, look no further than 1 Peter 4.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:8-11

Thought: What does it mean for us to be faithful stewards of God's grace? Living and walking in Grace is a hard choice, but I really want to stick to this call.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Out of the blue

The saying, 'out of the blue', was first recorded in print in the mid 1800's and has always referred to some event that happens unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning coming from blue skies. Most of us have enough life experience to realise that these kinds of things happen to us - we have a certain amount of control over events in our lives, but there are also some things that 'come out of the blue!'

I guess the real question is how we handle these moments - how prepared are we for these things? The early Christians experienced similar occurrences and they had to rely on God's grace and strength to get them through their challenges. 

1 Peter 4:12 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

Luke 24:4 - "While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them."

Question: How do you handle these events that happen 'out of the blue?'

Living in grace

D3LM3

No Shame

Being a Christian is not easy at times. There are many people that think we are crazy to believe in God and especially to believe in the person of Jesus. It is even hard to try and fully explain why we believe and what we believe, because people seem to have their arguments all neatly packaged.

Despite all of this, it is still a great privilege for me to be called a "Christ-ian" - or "little Christ." I really enjoyed this verse from 1 Peter 4 over the weekend - it reminded me not to feel ashamed of what I believe it.

"But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name." - 1 Peter 4:16 (NLT)

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

There is NO shame in following Jesus.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Love covers a multitude of sins

The Soncino commentary remarks, “Hatred makes mountains out of mole hills, but love covers, or puts out of sight, and enables one to overlook insults and wrongs.”

In reality, Love is willing to overlook insults and hurt in order to restore a relationship or friendship. The chance to make a 'mountain' out of the injury is always present, but Love chooses to take a different route.

Peter wrote these words in 1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

As you read these words today, is there someone who has hurt you? Are you willing to allow God's love to fill you and to help you 'cover' the pain that has been inflicted upon you?

Living in Grace
D3LM3