Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.
How many people do you enjoy dinner with each night? When a family sits down at the supper table, you have a group of people who are going to consume different sized portions as they eat. A baby might only drink a bottle of milk, while their older brother and sister has a large serving of potatoes and meat. The dad is a grown adult and may consume his meal quickly, asking his wife for a few extra servings, depending on how much is required for him to feel satisfied and full.
This reminds me of the Christian Life because each of us may necessitate different sized portions of Grace, depending on how much that we need. Those of us who need more, God is capable of providing extra servings. For some of us, it takes a lot more grace in order to become what He eventually wants us to be. We may require second helpings.
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
If your parents told you that they had a gift waiting for you, would you run home after school to go and get it? God has one waiting for each of us, but what we need to do is approach Him to obtain it. Forgiveness with God or others is something that we cannot earn, we simply need to give it or receive it as a gift. God doesn’t expect us to swim across the Atlantic ocean or to walk on hot coals before He grants it. He doesn’t expect us to to climb Mount Everest or suffer in the desert heat before He gives it. When we confess our sins unto Him, He can forgive us and completely cleanse us from our faults. (1 John 1:9) That sounds simple doesn’t it? It is, that’s why the Bible refers to it as the simplicity of the gospel. He grants this precious gift so that we can be in a reconciled relationship with Him and others once again. He gives it to us so that we can amend the poor choices and the wrong paths that we have taken. He extends mercy to us so that we can turn from darkness to light and obediently walk according to His divine purpose and will.
The gift of Christ is Mercy, but there are many of us, like a meal at supper time, who require a lot more helpings than others. We need a lot more mercy because of all the stupid things that we have done. We need a lot more mercy because of the numerous wrong decisions that we have made. We need a lot more mercy because of all of the foolish sins that we have committed. We need a lot more mercy because like a wandering sheep, lost in the world, we have gone astray from the shepherd and bishop of our souls.
God extends to each of us a gift of forgiveness and mercy, but it comes in different sized portions. The Apostle Paul was a man who received a lot of Grace. His original name was Saul and he was a Jewish Pharisee. Before he became a Christian, he was trying to destroy Christian churches and put believers in prison. (Acts 8:3, Gal 1:13) He consented to putting some of them to death. (Acts 26:10). At the time, he felt that he was blameless and sinless. He felt he was perfect in the eyes of God, but eventually turned away from his self-righteousness.
Philippians 3:4-9 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
The converted Jewish Pharisee needed a lot of helpings of grace to cover his past, which was given to him by Jesus Christ. God had a purpose for Paul, and gave him the Grace that he needed to convert to the truth, and become what God wanted him to be. The life of the Apostle Paul is a pattern to each of us, teaching us how long suffering and abundantly merciful our God truly is.
1 Timothy 1:12-16 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul received such a huge portion of grace, that it resulted in huge works in His life. Most of the new Testament that we have today was written by his hand.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
People in the church even recognized that God was working in his life.
Galatians 1:21-24 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.
God is filled with abundant Mercy. (1 Peter 1:3)
There is plenty of it available. (Psalms 86:5, Psalms 86:15, Psalms 103:8)
Like the multitude of stars in the sky, are His abundant graces (Psalms 69:16)
70 x 7 are His many mercies toward us. (1 Peter 4:10, Matthew 18:21-22)
God is rich in forgiveness. (Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:7)
The life of the Apostle Paul is evidence of what God can do with each of us when we accept the fact that we are sinners who need His Mercy. No matter how much grace is required, God is capable of giving us extra portions so that we can get on the straight and narrow and do his will.
Some of us need more, some of us need less, but all of us need grace.
Have you asked God for……
…….Second Helpings?
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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