Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Love and Grace (09/11/14)
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TITLE: The Benefactor | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Bonney
09/15/14 -
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As we left church that morning, the thought-provoking question overshadowed my mind like an ominous cloud. I came to the conclusion that, since God is LOVE, if He did not exist, there would be no love. Our human minds and hearts would be incapable of producing anything remotely resembling it; an unreachable, illusive feeling beyond our grasp.
Where there is no love, there is no grace—no mercy, no redemption, no reason for living. But that would not stop us from filling the Great Void and emptiness of our souls with poor imitations; sex, materialism, humanism, vices. Like automated puppets, we would be controlled by self, living only for Number One. Go for the gusto, grab that brass ring, live it up, wallowing in sin, slaves to whatever felt good, and caring only for ourselves and our desires. We think the “worldly” world is evil now—take away LOVE (GOD) and there would be no goodness or charity or compassion. No morality, no conscience, no deeds of kindness unless it was a means to further our self-interests.
Many of us think that we control our own lives, and talk glibly about providence, fate and karma and destiny. Who do we think we are kidding? Only ourselves, it will turn out.
The fact is, anything that is good in our lives is from God through His freely-given care, and our greatest mistake is in trying to live independently from Him and not recognizing Him as our Benefactor of these things. Even as Christians, some of us fail to realize the extent of our dependence on God for EVERYTHING. Our jobs do not support us—God uses our jobs to support us. Our money does not put food on the table—God uses our money to provide our daily bread. If we had no jobs or money, God would use a different venue to provide these needs. As young children depend on their parents, so we have Him to thank for supplying ALL our needs.
This grace, God’s unmerited favor to us, is available because of LOVE. We do not deserve it and we cannot earn it. After giving us all that is good (the dessert of His love), grace is God’s way of giving us the whipped cream with a cherry on top. We administer this type of grace, in a more finite way, to our kids when we give them another chance or when we refuse to say “I told you so” to our spouses.
It is God’s love and resulting grace, His divine influence making us pure and morally strong, His blessing of assistance given to us. Agape (unconditional) love is something we as humans crave from God; and yet, fail to reciprocate into our fellow relationships. Most of us administer love and grace to others only if we feel they deserve it. It is almost beyond our feeble human comprehension, this unconditional love. Time and again, Jesus bestowed His attention on those who were the least deserving: Mary Magdalene (of questionable reputation), Disciple Matthew (a tax collector by trade), Saul (Believer persecutor, later named Paul), just a few. Would that we would follow His example and give of ourselves to “the least of these, our brothers.”!*
God’s love and grace was first realized by mankind when He gave His only Son to be born on earth in human form to show us how much He loves us; and then allowed this same sinless, perfect Son to be rejected, condemned, and crucified to save us from ourselves. We can receive this forgiveness according to the riches of His immeasurable grace (Ephesians 1:7). Further, even in the face of our sin and suffering and brokenness, He keeps His promises according to His Word, the Bible. His grace guarantees salvation and eternal life and empowerment and firm roots to grow us into His likeness when we seek Him:
“ For the grace of God (**out of His love for us**) has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”***
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*Matthew 25:40
**author’s add-in**
*** Titus 2:11-14
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1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Hugs and prayers, Judi