Thinkin' about grace today. The unmerited favor of God coupled with forgiveness. Considering the price Christ paid, we need to be sure he’s getting his monies worth. We must be worthy of the call. Paul said this in Ephesians 4:1.
In Philemon we see an escaped
servant who had stolen from his master, imprisoned, and deserving of death in
that culture. Yet, Paul dared to petition Philemon on his behalf. He asked Philemon not only to forgive
Onesimus but let him stay with Paul to be a help to him. A master relinquishing his right to his
property. “And I am praying that you
will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you
understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. I am confident as I write this letter that
you will do what I ask and even more!”
Paul asked Philemon to extend grace to Onesimus which would demonstrate
his devotion to the Call of Christ.
In Titus, Paul gives strict
instructions to servants such as Onesimus. He reminds all Christians that godly
living will show others the “grace of
God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people”. The whole book tells us how to be worthy of
the Call.
The words regarding the end times in the books of Thessalonians are a masterpiece of grace. We, like the people of Thessalonica, have done nothing to deserve eternal security in a place of love and joy. For some, the journey will be rough but all who endure are promised salvation. Indeed, Paul reminds us to live a life worthy of our call. The Pulpit commentary explains, “The calling was, properly speaking, only the commencement of the Christian life, but as it was the first link in a chain that terminated in glory.” When we accept Christ into our lives, we receive a call. A call to “ to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:8. It is the first step to our entire life’s journey from glory to glory. Our words and our actions determine the evaluation of that call.
Think 'bout that.
