Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics the group Unspoken singing their song … Call It Grace … poignantly singing of God’s grace which pours into the life of a surrendered/receptive Christian saving and sanctifying us for God’s glory.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Colossians 4:6 [NLT] …
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
… Paul, on being an agent of God’s grace in the way relate to others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Colossians 4:2-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, instructs Christians on passing His grace on in the way we speak and share our lives with others.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Ephesians 4:29 [NKJV] …
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
… We shouldn’t say anything unless it provides grace to the hearer.
Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Philippians 2:3-4 [NLT] …
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
… And that’s God’s grace being shared with others.
Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … 1st Peter 3:15 [NLT] …
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, …
… As Christians we’re always to be ready to share Christ with others … but ALWAYS with grace.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, used a Christians sports figure to illustrate how we, as disciples of Christ, must be agents of grace to others. The ODB author wrote: The US Masters Golf Tournament began in 1934, and since then only three players have won it two years in a row. On April 10, 2016, it appeared that twenty-two-year-old Jordan Spieth would become the fourth. But he faltered on the last nine holes and finished in a tie for second. Despite his disappointing loss, Spieth was gracious toward tournament champion Danny Willett, congratulating him on his victory and on the birth of his first child, something “more important than golf.”
Writing in The New York Times, Karen Krouse said, “It takes grace to see the big picture so soon after having to sit through a trophy ceremony and watch someone else have his photograph taken.” Krouse continued, “Spieth’s ball-striking was off all week, but his character emerged unscathed.”
I’m a rabid golf fan. And I revel in following the exploits of Jordan Spieth, a very young champion, who is an unashamed and outspoken Christian. And I was watching on TV that day when the awards ceremony for the most prestigious of all golf tournaments took place. And though having been greatly disappointment by his loss to Danny Willett that day, Spieth’s grace in defeat shouted out God’s grace loudly that day in the so-called “Green Jacket” victory ceremony. Jordan graciously presented the victory jacket to the winner of that year’s Master’s winner [see attached photo], humbly congratulating his opponent. It was a magnificent display of Godly grace.
God’s word (see Scripture above) is clear on what we are to do, as Christians, with regard to our speech and actions in this graceless and darkened world. We, as disciples of Christ, are to speak and act like Jesus did to His enemies and detractors in His day … with grace.
So, … let’s all go forth as open/obvious agents of God’s grace as we interact with others today.
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Help me to speak forth and give out Your grace to any/all I encounter today, … tomorrow, … and always. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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