Grace in a time of strife

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Grace. It’s a gift. From God, yes. And also from one person to another.

Think about it for a moment: when was the last time someone was gracious to you? When did you last extend grace to someone else?

During these turbulent times, I’ve noticed society’s grace quotient plunging like the stock market did recently. People – even those who call themselves followers of Christ – are becoming more short-tempered, irritable and just plain mean-spirited, lashing out at others (oftentimes for a trivial offense or a neutral matter). Frequently they do this online, forever etching their frustrations in cutting, hurtful remarks to people they don’t even know and may never meet this side of Heaven.

How can this be acceptable behavior for a believer?

We are to be governed by the law of love (James 2:8). We cannot abide in love if we do not exercise self-control in our actions and our words. We are not loving when we lash out.

This month, let’s focus on loving others and extend grace whenever we have the opportunity. Let’s season our words with grace even when we are disappointed, anxious or frustrated. And especially when we are impatient or irritated.

Let’s think about the following scriptures:

Luke 6:36. “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

Ephesians 4:32. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

God bless you, dear readers, as you bless others. And have a grace-filled month of May!

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