There are so many things that God offers to us, and when we allow ourselves to receive them it truly is life changing. The greatest of all is His love, but beyond that He also offers His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy...and these are the very things that set Christ followers apart in a world full of "religions". There is nothing like experiencing the love of God. Words can't explain that moment when you first come to grips with Him loving you enough to send His own Son to be punished and die for your sins. Then, through that gift, you get to experience His forgiveness. (John 3:16-21) A feeling that is honestly hard to explain until you have felt it. It's realizing that I have spent years of my life hurting Him, and in a moment He is ready for me to turn my heart over to Him and accept His forgiveness. And then comes His grace and mercy that is new for us every day. (Lamentations 3:22-23) It is THE hope that God is there for me all the time, not just when I'm having a "good day". He loves me enough to show me grace when I need it and give me mercy when I don't deserve it. It is the definition of unfailing and unconditional love.
But the one thing I used to be very bad about, and I have noticed a lot of other Christians can be too, is that we become "storehouses" of these things once we receive them from Jesus....but we shouldn't be. We were never intended to receive all these amazing gifts from God and then just to sit on them. We are called to be carriers of these things and to hand them out to others as freely as God hands them out to us. If we really are a representation of God's light to the world, then we have to love, forgive, and show grace and mercy to others as He does to us. And when we do begin to live in this "attitude" toward others, then it will also keep us humble. It can be quite easy to become puffed up and prideful when we walk in God's forgiveness but forget that we are called to offer that same forgiveness to others. 1 Peter 4:10 says "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God". And Colossians 4:6 tells us to "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one". In fact, there are many scriptures that cover this topic, pointing out the importance of us offering forgiveness, grace and mercy to others. Do you think maybe God covered this so well in His Word because He knew as humans this would be an area we could really find ourselves struggling in? I think so. It can be quite easy to allow a spirit of offense to come over us and forget that the very thing we ask God for daily, we don't want to offer up to someone else. It's the very thing that causes us to build up walls, become bitter, walk around hurt and open doors up for the enemy to move into our life. But it doesn't have to be. In our own strength we can struggle bad in these areas, but when we allow Him to flow through us, and surrender that spirit of offense over to Him, we can be distributors of all the things we need from Him daily.
I know the joy that God can bring into my life when I decide to give out as much grace and mercy as I need from Him. It really is a choice too. Only you can decide to give it, or hold it in. But as for me, I would rather be a carrier than a storehouse. I am completely undeserving of the love, forgiveness, grace and mercy He has shown me....and even more undeserving of the blessings and favor He has shown me, so why wouldn't I want to demonstrate Him to others in this same way. Without Him I am nothing, and due to my ugly past I can tell you that I would be on my way to hell if it wasn't for Him. I have no right to hold things over someone else's head that they have done when He isn't holding the things I've done over my head.
God, I can't thank You enough for the undeserving, unending love, grace and mercy You have shown me. Please help me be as much like You as I can be in this area of my life. I want to distribute the same love, grace and mercy to others that You allow me to receive from You. And I want represent You well in this area of my life so others will see the difference You can make. Help me not make it about me, but always point others to You! In Jesus name, Amen.
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