The Grace Advantage
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:13)
After the fall, God could have sought revenge for Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Instead, God promised to send His only Son to be an offering for sins. Grace, in this instance involved the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin to restore man’s fellowship with His Creator.
Because God extended grace, both sides benefitted: God and man received an increase over what each possessed originally. God not only received back his Son from the dead, but Jesus was also “The firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). God got an increase on His sacrifice—He got the church! You may not think you’re an advantage to God, but He thinks you are worth the price of Jesus’s death! Throughout the centuries, every person who has been born again is God’s increase.
You benefitted too. When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost the garden of Eden, but the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). They lived in Eden, but you sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Adam was given dominion to subdue and conquer the earth, but you are mor than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37). God always wants to give you more than you had before.
So, how do you treat others when you are wronged? Is seeking revenge the first thing that pops into your mind? The Bible teaches the principle of extending grace in order to turn your disadvantage into an advantage. But first, you need to cast that irritation on the Lord: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Regardless of what the person did to you, the Word tells us to forgive one another, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:13). The key to doing that is to recall that Christ forgave you.
If you are born-again, then you received grace when you were saved. You didn’t deserve it, but as we have seen, Jesus gave you more than you ever had before; consequently, you’re now enjoying a life of grace and blessings. We have the grace to forgive others. If you dispense that grace by forgiving others, you will end up richer.
Because God extended grace, both you and the person who offended you can benefit. So, do as the Lord did: don’t seek revenge. Rather, extend grace!
Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Beautiful Inheritance A 101 Daily Devotional.
