I couldn't decide which of two thoughts to go with from this morning's reading. So you decide...
What do you have that you did not receive? If then, you received it, why do you boast...?
-- 1 Corinthians 4:7
Everything is a gift. What we have... who we have in our lives... and for that matter, our very lives... all gifts.
We must always be mindful that: We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world; (1 Timothy 6:7).
We can choose to be thankful. We can choose to be miserly, selfish and miserable.
Grace is undeserved. And I am glad. The nature of grace negates my need to perform; to be good enough, do enough, be special enough. Grace flows from the goodness of a giving God, who is the Father of light, and in whom, there is no shifting shadow (James 1:17).
God is pure in nature and in his love for us. There is no shadow, no dark-side motive. (I won't pretend to fully understand the ugliness that also exists in this world, and that discussion is for another time. I do know that grace overcomes ugliness, and in the midst of each difficulty, grace is working.)
So what is our response to grace? We simply receive with a thankful spirit. We do not boast. Why? Because we have absolutely nothing to brag or be conceited about. My next heartbeat is given by God's grace. I have no power to effect one more heartbeat or breath. ALL is a gift.
Receive... and share...
(Well - after writing for a bit, I'm going with that. So just one thought on the other.)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power.
-- 1 Corinthians 4:20
It's Election Season. There is plenty of talk about what this one or that one is going to DO if elected. And most of it is just that... talk. Let's not be like that with our lives. Let's not be like that with the gift of life given us in Christ. Today, don't talk Christian... BE CHRISTIAN.
God, my very breath is a gift. Help me live a thankful life...
For now...
D
-- 1 Corinthians 4:7
Everything is a gift. What we have... who we have in our lives... and for that matter, our very lives... all gifts.
We must always be mindful that: We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world; (1 Timothy 6:7).
We can choose to be thankful. We can choose to be miserly, selfish and miserable.
Grace is undeserved. And I am glad. The nature of grace negates my need to perform; to be good enough, do enough, be special enough. Grace flows from the goodness of a giving God, who is the Father of light, and in whom, there is no shifting shadow (James 1:17).
God is pure in nature and in his love for us. There is no shadow, no dark-side motive. (I won't pretend to fully understand the ugliness that also exists in this world, and that discussion is for another time. I do know that grace overcomes ugliness, and in the midst of each difficulty, grace is working.)
So what is our response to grace? We simply receive with a thankful spirit. We do not boast. Why? Because we have absolutely nothing to brag or be conceited about. My next heartbeat is given by God's grace. I have no power to effect one more heartbeat or breath. ALL is a gift.
Receive... and share...
(Well - after writing for a bit, I'm going with that. So just one thought on the other.)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power.
-- 1 Corinthians 4:20
It's Election Season. There is plenty of talk about what this one or that one is going to DO if elected. And most of it is just that... talk. Let's not be like that with our lives. Let's not be like that with the gift of life given us in Christ. Today, don't talk Christian... BE CHRISTIAN.
God, my very breath is a gift. Help me live a thankful life...
For now...
D
