Have you ever attended a beauty pageant? One where the judges took in account the ease, charm and the attractiveness of the contestant to the extent that one is better than all the others. A winner is chosen with a first and second runner up! All take a prize; and life goes on!
Most little girls grow up with the idea planted into their little heads that they should have gone to a charm school to learn how to be graceful and pleasing in all circumstances. Most little girls wanted to be tom boys but were always scholded with; Sit still; put your legs together; don't cross your legs; stand up tall; don't slump your shoulders and the worse of all; Act your age!
As adults we revere those who can be graceful; who dress with charm and walk in and out of all situations with ease. Many make comments like; "A woman of such grace and grandeur." "She has such grace and always does the proper thing." Oh to have such charm!
I have always like the idea of having a grace period. Payment is due on the 1st but you have a 15 day grace period. Of course today with all the bailing out of big business and allowing the government to become involved where they shouldn't, a lot of rules and regulations are changing within the finance world and the grace period could become a thing of the past.
Grace isn't usually a dinner topic but it is our topic this weekend. Grace in the world stands for posture; manners and a somehat sense of propriety. The name Grace is one of the top ten most favorite girls names of this generation. And why not; it is a beautiful name and means "God's favor!" In our church alone; there are at least 4, not to mention middle names.
Understanding our part in "grace" is to become involved within God's will. We grow in the grace of God by reading and doing His word. "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes long for the pure milk of the word; that by it you may grow in respect to salvation." 1 Peter 2:1 We begin with the milk; learning how to repent and to follow the Savior. From there we begin to know our God!
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen!" 2 Peter 3:18 We are walking in God's grace from here through eternity. Sounds ominous, but God says we can do this!
When we continue in growing in God's grace we can see how the Beatitudes can apply to us. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth; Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied; Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy; Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of me." Matthew 5:3-11 Can you see the results of God's grace? Do you understand what the cross did for us who are now called Christians?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatian 5:22-23 To paraphrase 2 Peter 1:5-11 When we make every effort to supplement our faith with; virture, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness and brotherly love; we keep from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Those who do these things will be richly provided an entrance into the eternal kingdom.
We are walking in God's grace; not spontaneous charm. This is the Holy Spirit within us! The road we are on is the road to heaven by way of Calvary. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/11/10
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