“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:12, 14-15 KJV
“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see…”
I remember singing in the youth choir at Mt. Zion UAME Church an updated version of this beloved hymn and having no clue of the significance of the concept of grace or God’s Grace as I am beginning to understand it now. I recognize I struggle with this concept and have begun to search the scriptures for help.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor. I’ve taught this definition as a Sunday School and Bible Study teacher. What does this mean though when we are to extend grace?
God extends His grace to us and that fact is amazing! We act up and foul up and He, the Almighty Forgiving God still extends His Grace toward us. This does not give us license to commit sin. It does not mean that there aren’t repercussions to committing sin, but is does give us hope that if we do sin that God extends grace toward us.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV
As humans, we do not instinctively extend the gift of grace to others as God does. We harbor hurt, hate, jealousy vengeance quickly rather than extending forgiveness, love, mercy, and kindness.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16 KJV
That fruit, is the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temrance: against such there is no law.” All those actions, with love being the essential/root, lead into us extending grace in a God-like manner toward others.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19 KJV
The concept of extending grace to others is a prayerful decision. Our human nature makes it difficult to bring our mind and heart together to achieve. Our heart constantly wants to protect itself from hurt and our mind rehashes every wrong that has occurred. Extending grace supersedes our natural reaction. It has us respond to situations and circumstances in a manner that can cause others to question and then discover why we react in the way we do.
We may suffer but we can give an answer…
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 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:”
1 Peter 3:14-15 KJV
“For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”
1 Peter 3:17 KJV
For example – when the person shot and killed Amish people in Pennsylvania a few years back, their family response was not in anger, but in love. They prayed for their attacker and his family and I believe reached out to them. They extended grace even in their own grief and sorrow. It made many inquire and sparked conversation. Look how I am referring back to the situation years later and how God is glorified.
I pray that we can begin to extend the same type of grace that God extends to us…that we give the unmerited gifts of love and forgiveness like God bestows toward us.
I pray as Peter wrote,
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, (in this case being extending grace) being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:6-9 KJV
My friends, let us attempt to extend grace to others. Pray for me as I pray for you.
lifeandgodliness 