Grace Before, Grace Beyond
Grace Before, Grace Beyond
Friday
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on their part; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship."
— Acts 20:32-38 (ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
— Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
— 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
— Acts 20:32-38 (ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
— Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
— 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Reflect:
Pastors move on. Friends say goodbye. But God and the word of His grace remain. The grace that went before you, seeking you before you ever sought Him, is the same grace that will build you up and bring you safely to your inheritance. The God who began a good work in you will finish it. And grace received becomes grace given. Those calloused hands, working to help the weak, echo the words of Jesus: it is more blessed to give than to receive. Generosity is not how we earn God's love. It is how we reflect the God who gave His Son for us. Today, rest in the grace that holds you, and look for one way to pass it on.
Pastors move on. Friends say goodbye. But God and the word of His grace remain. The grace that went before you, seeking you before you ever sought Him, is the same grace that will build you up and bring you safely to your inheritance. The God who began a good work in you will finish it. And grace received becomes grace given. Those calloused hands, working to help the weak, echo the words of Jesus: it is more blessed to give than to receive. Generosity is not how we earn God's love. It is how we reflect the God who gave His Son for us. Today, rest in the grace that holds you, and look for one way to pass it on.
Consider:
- Where have you seen God's grace "go before you" in your life, even before you were looking for Him?
- What is one cheerful, concrete act of generosity you can do before this week ends?
Pray:
Gracious God, I entrust myself to You and to the word of Your grace. Finish the work You began in me, and make me a cheerful giver. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Gracious God, I entrust myself to You and to the word of Your grace. Finish the work You began in me, and make me a cheerful giver. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Posted in Don\\\'t Shrink Back - Acts 20:17-38
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