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1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Have you ever thought of your life as a steward of “God’s grace?”  Perhaps in the Christian realm, we think of being a steward (manager) of the wealth God has given us.  We perhaps talk about stewarding our time and, yes, our talents.  However, when’s the last time you have been encouraged to steward God’s grace…in its various forms?

The first reaction to grace is what God has done FOR us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Rightly so, we treasure God’s grace as his undeserved love that he shows to us by NOT treating us as our sins deserve, but by applying the perfect life and death of Jesus to our account so we are now seen as perfect and the punishment for our sin paid for.

But what are the “various forms” of grace that God is a) entrusting to us and b) asking us to steward them.  Receiving the saving grace of God is a treasure in itself.  However, when God gives us saving grace, he also gifts us with gifts of grace.

What are those gifts of grace?

All the ways that grace expresses itself in and through our lives is what God invites and encourages us to manage.

You see, grace changes our eternal destination, it also changes our life’s purpose.  Really all of our lives becomes an opportunity to respond to the saving grace God has given to us.  

Perhaps more specifically, we begin to see that God’s Spirit does give us spiritual gifts to use in the work of the kingdom.  He can change the focus of our careers, hobbies, interests and experiences to now ask the question, “How can I use this experience, interest, or talent to the glory of God and the expansion of his kingdom?”  When grace changes our heart, it changes how we steward life.

Life becomes about glorifying God and serving others…responding to the grace that has been shown to us and realizing everything with which I have been gifted is a gift of grace.

Apply: Make a list of your abilities, talents, spiritual gifts, hobbies and interests.  Next to each of them write, “Gift of God.”  Then in a third column answer, “I can use this to serve God and others by…”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of grace that saves me from sin and for service in your kingdom. Help me to faithfully steward every aspect of life to your glory.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Compass: GROW in grace and knowledge! (LISTEN HERE)

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Motivation is key to growth.

We need a Spirit-given desire to grow in our love for God’s grace and knowledge of his Word.  Yesterday we indicated two good reasons to grow in knowledge…1) to know what is true and what is not and 2) to be ready for life with the wisdom that comes from God.

Today two more.

Reason 3) Be more fruitful.

January in Texas is a time to begin thinking about gardening and spring.  With the last frost around the middle to end of February, now is the time to plan for “producing fruit” in the spring.  In our backyard we have now eight fruit trees.  In the next week or so it is time to prune some of the branches off to make the other branches more fruitful.  When the blossoms start to open, it will be time to spray some fungicide to prevent rot of the fruit later on.  To have a tree that produces fruit takes work.

The same is true for our walk with our Savior.  He has saved us by his grace to be fruitful with his grace. 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We want to produce the fruit that God has planned for us to do.  Paul identifies some of that fruit in Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

But Jesus in his parable of the sower and the seed identified that there are threats to producing fruit such as the worries and concerns of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the challenges that come because of my connection to Jesus. (Matthew 13).  He also taught that pruning is necessary to get rid of the parts of life that make us ineffective

John 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

To be more fruitful means strengthening my connection to Jesus and his Word of Truth.

Reason 4) Be a teacher

Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

The school system in central Texas is in need of teachers.  With the growth in the area, districts are looking for individuals qualified to teach kids of all ages.

The Christian church and faith needs teachers.  The Lord needs Christians to continue to mature in their faith so they can teach others.  The writer to the Hebrews gently reprimands his readers and says, “By this time you ought to be teachers!”  Perhaps its a time to reflect on the years perhaps you have been in the church and exposed to the teaching of God’s Word.  Would you be comfortable teaching it to someone else?  Maybe this is your challenge for 2023…be a teacher of God’s truth.

How?  Perhaps it does mean going back and reviewing the basics.  Take the new member course at your church.  Review the basics in Luther’s Small Catechism.  But then challenge yourself to teach some aspect of the Christian faith to someone else.  Volunteer to teach in the kids ministry.  Ask to be able to teach a lesson of the new member class or confirmation class.  Practice in your home with your kids.

Be ready to be a teacher to take what God has given to you and give it to someone else.

And, in the level of learning retention, when you have to teach something to another person, YOU retain a large amount of that knowledge.  So teaching is a great way to grow yourself AND help someone else grow!

Apply: What fruit of faith would you like to grow in becoming better at?  What is a plan to do that?  What topic of the Christian faith would you like to grow in to be able to teach someone?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and the depth of knowledge you reveal in your word.  Motivate us by your Spirit to always grow to be more fruitful and ready when you need us to teach someone else.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Compass: GROW in grace and knowledge! (LISTEN HERE)

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Why invest in spiritual growth?

“Start with Why”

This popular book by Simon Sinek gives a framework of how leaders inspire others to action.  The key? A shared belief that the REASON for the effort is worth my INVESTMENT of time.

Is time invested in spiritual growth worth the effort?  While the short answer is, “Yes!” let me share some “Why’s” that give a strong reason to invest time in your days and weeks to growing spiritually…especially in God’s grace and knowledge of his Word.

1. Misinformation…disinformation…false information.

These buzz words in our current culture pertain to what appears on social media and news sources and speak to whether the information is true, not true, biased or unbiased.  It’s hard to really find any objective source of information which is 100% true and credible.

The same challenge exists in the spiritual realm.  On what are you relying for your knowledge about God, his Son Jesus, and his Word in general?

The best is to go to the source.  We KNOW that the source, the Bible itself, is true…all of it.  So instead of relying on someone else for your spiritual information, become a student of it yourself.

Satan is the “Father of Lies” and is looking to feed our souls misinformation, disinformation and outright lies about all things spiritual to dissuade, discourage, and disconnect us from the love of God and the security of salvation found in Christ.

The way to stand firm and discern truth from error…keep growing spiritually.  In fact, the Apostle Peter preceded the encouragement to grow with this strong reason why:

2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 

1. Be ready for life.

Life can be challenging.  Every day has its joys and challenges and sometimes it’s hard to navigate them all.  We rely on friends and family for support.  We look to the internet or professionals for advice.  We turn to addictions to escape the unpleasant moments and situations. We carry a mixed bag of healthy and unhealthy resources to deal with the situations that come up in life.

While not putting a “Bible band-aid” on every situation that comes up, the Bible gives God’s wisdom, promises, guidance and perspective on situations and problems that come up.  When we have these words of wisdom and truth in our minds we can engage in very difficult situations with a solid biblical perspective and God-given truth.  We won’t be blown here and there by the latest advice or succumb to one’s who want to take advantage of our situation. 

How? We grow up in the Word of God.  We memorize it.  We apply it.  We use it.  We hold on to it.  We mature in it.  

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write in Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 

Life is going to happen.  It’s why God has given us his word to guide us in every aspect of life.

If these two reasons aren’t good enough…which I hope they are…two more are coming tomorrow!

Apply: Which of these two reasons compels you more to be more intentional about your spiritual growth?  Want a quick assessment to uncover areas of Bible knowledge you may want to explore more?  Click this link: https://probe.org/bible-literacy-quiz-separated-format/?_gl=1*dhvsr7*_ga*MTIyODI4NTY1NC4xNjc0MDU2OTQ0*_ga_EJVJ4615HK*MTY3NDA1Njk0My4xLjEuMTY3NDA1Njk0NS4wLjAuMA..&_ga=2.76477845.1694729200.1674056945-1228285654.1674056944

Prayer: Spirit of God, compel in me the desire to grow stronger and more mature in your Word so I might be better equipped each day to live in and live out your grace.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Compass: GROW in grace and knowledge! (LISTEN HERE)

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Grow in knowledge.

Are you a fan of the game show, Jeopardy? Or the board game “Trivia Pursuit”?

If you are a storehouse of random facts and bits of information, you probably love these two games.  If you feel like your brain is not meant to store seemingly meaningless information, you find something else to do when this is on TV or the game is suggested.

Sometimes we feel like knowledge is overrated.  Maybe you spent four years earning a college degree and find yourself using the information very little.  Maybe you asked the question in high school while learning proofs and theorems in geometry, “And WHY do we have to know this?”

Perhaps we have taken our spiritual knowledge in a similar way.  A new Bible study offered at your church, “Ah, I’ve already heard that before and I’m busy anyway.”  A free moment to read a bit of Scripture, “We covered that in Sunday School when I was young.”  Growing in our knowledge of the Bible and its application in our lives we can sometimes feel is overrated.

God forgive us.

King Solomon realized that knowledge and wisdom were foundational components of God’s people to find certainty in salvation and confidence and blessing in life.  To ignore growing, learning, understanding, knowledge and wisdom was to be a fool.

And no one wants to be a fool.

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.  7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

When the Apostle Peter took Solomon’s advice and encouraged us to do the same, he desired we grow in “the knowledge of Jesus Christ” for two reasons.

1. Grow in the knowledge of Christ and what he has said (all of his Word).

Let me be blunt.  In general we live is a culture of biblical ignorance.  That may apply to you, it may not.  Most people don’t know Bible characters and stories that revolve around Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus.  Snippets of Bible information are gleaned in philosophy classes in college, Hollywood references in movies, or poor quotations from politicians aired on the evening news.  Many “think” they know what the Bible says, but few know what the Bible says.  This sounds condescending, but I want to encourage every Christian who reads this to be intentional about KNOWING what is in the Bible.  Read it…every day…or at least a few times a week.  Get to know the Bible’s characters, the Bible stories, and the Bible truths.  Know that Haggai is in the Old Testament and Titus is in the New Testament.  Become familiar with what the Bible says.  Why?  So when you hear or read something that is NOT in the Bible, but claims to be from the Bible you are grounded in the knowledge of the truth, not the hearsay of someone else.  “Let the wise add to their learning.”

1. Grow in the knowledge of Christ to view the world through the lens of the Lord.

Solomon penned, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” It does not appear that Solomon is limiting the fear of the Lord to the beginning of just biblical or spiritual knowledge.  It is a general statement that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of ALL knowledge.  Wisdom comes when I view all of life through the lens of the Lord.  After all, as we trust that God is the Creator of all things, he has formed the fabric of all that we study from biology to psychology, from engineering to history, from medicine to mechanics.  The world and the Lord’s hand are involved in everything.  God’s wisdom gives perspective to the rise and fall of nations.  God’s order gives credence to the study of mathematics of the inquiries to the quantum mechanics of the universe.  God’s perspective on identity, value and relationships form a foundation for counseling and relationship coaching.

When we see life through the lens of the Lord, knowledge isn’t just facts and figures, but impact and blessing in our lives and through us to others.

So grow…in knowledge.

Make a commitment to grow in your relationship to the Lord and his Word of truth.  Be wise and add to your learning!

Apply: Where are you going to start?

Prayer: Lord thank you for so many areas that I can grow in my knowledge.  Help me view each of them through a love and fear of you!  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Compass: GROW in grace and knowledge! (LISTEN HERE)

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Grow in grace!

If you’ve been around Christianity for awhile, this phrase, “Grow in grace” is one that is used often.  We even have a ministry in our church body of pastoral continuing education called “Grow in Grace.”

While it rolls off the tongue, what does it really mean to GROW in grace?

Certainly it’s more than becoming more graceful in my physical movements.  It has to be more than just being more “gracious” in my demeanor and interaction with others.

But what is it?

It may seem like a silly question, but grace is God’s undeserved love for us shown to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is the reality that we trust in for salvation.  It is God’s gift to us that we have not deserved but is given to us.

So how do you grow in a gift that has already been given to you?  It seems like once it has been given, that’s it.  

Here’s what the Apostle Peter is getting at when he encourages every believer to “grow in grace.”  Increase in your confidence, awareness, and trust in what God has done FOR you.

Grace in it’s essence is what God has done for us.

Unfortunately, grace is perhaps one of the hardest concepts, not necessarily to understand, but one to truly embrace.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Growth area #1: Let grace be grace.  We love to try to feel more secure in our relationship with God by our outward performance.  Subconsciously we want God to notice our moments of patience, our acts of kindness, or our participation in worship.  Why?  Just in case God needs some evidence that we deserve his love.  We abandon, so subtly, the confidence of grace to question what else has to be done to secure life with Jesus forever.  Our nature is to DO something to earn God’s favor. 

Just think when you receive a very nice gift.  I just had a birthday.  My family gave me two very nice gifts.  It was hard for me to just receive them without thinking how much they cost.  If I should pay some for them, etc.  It is so natural to receive a gift conditionally and self-impose conditions that WE have to do to make ourselves feel better about receiving the gift (which is no longer a gift because no we feel we earned or deserved it!).

Stop!

There is no need to add to grace our performance…in fact in doing so we negate grace.

There is no need to find a personal boast in receiving God’s gift of salvation…he is happy and desires to fully give it to us…no strings attached and no performance required.

Let grace be grace.

Growth area #2: Let grace motivate performance.  Let go of the need to earn God’s favor and just live in grateful response TO God’s favor.  Grace is already yours.  Now just use that gift to be God’s workmanship and carry out his calling on your life.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Let grace motivate a life of grace.

What God has done for us in Christ is simple at the surface, but the depth and impact is a lifetime of growth to understand, appreciate, take to heart, trust, and live.  Enjoy the journey of growing in grace!

Apply: What makes it challenging to receive grace without thinking you have to “pay” for it in some way?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for grace.  Forgive me for lessening your grace by trying to earn it in some way.  Keep me growing in your grace that I might love you more, trust you securely, and live for you more joyfully.  AMEN.