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July 13, 2010
Extra Grace Required
Conducting yourself in God's grace |
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Greetings!
Yesterday I enjoyed an incredible conversation with a Los Angeles County bureaucrat. It felt like something between an inquisition and a deposition. Todd, a Covenant Board Member and our attorney was present and he was seriously thinking of making an objection during the conversation. It was crazy. If there is anything we have learned in the past two years serving foster children in Los Angeles County it is to operate in high grace with county officials.
Operating in grace is a required response with many government or corporate officials. Sadly, many people are overworked and under-paid and the result is the uncomfortable lashing out at people that have nothing to do with the issue. Here is what I know, staff are overburdened, deal with crazy folks, complaints, and irritated consumers day in and day out. Usually, people are calling to complain. We have become a society of professional complainers.
As followers of Jesus, we are to be unique and different. In fact, we are called to be set apart and not like the world ( 1 Peter 2:9). We are called to shine as lights in the darkness and to be the salt of the earth ( Matthew 5:13-16). My question is, "How can we accomplish God's Kingdom work if we follow the norm of society?" We can't! We have to be different and and one way to accomplish that goal is to conduct ourselves, in word and deed, in grace. |
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Conduct your life with Grace
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.
~ 2 Corinthians 1:12 ~ |
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| Extra Grace Required
The first time I heard "EGR" was many years ago. I was talking to a friend in ministry and they mentioned a meeting they had with someone that needed EGR. I had no idea what this was so I asked and was clued into the lingo ... Extra Grace Required = EGR. This was a nice way to state that someone had the potential to be very difficult. If you read your Bible carefully, you will find a large amount of EGR folks including the Hebrew people, most of the disciples and in modern time, you and I. After all, if we weren't people that needed EGR then why would grace be so amazing?
Truth be told, you and I are often in the EGR category. So, if we follow the commandments and teaching of the Bible then we should operate in high grace with others. Jesus Himself stated, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). Christ said this to His disciples that He was sending forth into the world. I think we should follow His lead and extend the grace provided to us to others.
Today, this week, this month and for the rest of your life you will face people that are difficult. Remember, be gracious. Conduct yourself with grace. It is easy to operate as the world does and complain, grumble, backbite and cause strife. It is difficult but Kingdom-minded to act, speak and think in grace. The rewards are peace and joy for you and respite for those you bless with grace.
In Colossians 4:5-6, scripture tells us, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This is a great recipe for a peace-filled and joyous life and a life that blesses others. It is easy to follow the crowd and complain and speak your mind. Make the tough choice and allow God to lead you in grace. Make the most of every opportunity set before you by blessing someone with God's grace.
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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