Grace that empowers

(John 3:16) God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.

God's motive was love. His plan for solving the trouble that ills us (sin) was Jesus' death on the cross, that was the part we simply could not do for ourselves.

(Ephesians 2:8,9) for by grace are you saved through faith; not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not by works, so that no man can boast.

Faith (Gr pistis), trusting in the faithfulness of God. Many debate whether faith is an act of man or of God. Isn't faith included in the clause 'it is the gift of God'. So then clearly our wills are set free by His grace to choose Him and we ought to do that because there is great satisfaction in a relationship with God, and because there is great reward in pursuing Him.

(Hebrews 11:6) Without faith it is impossible to please God.

If faith means entrusting ourselves to God and following after Him, and if God is perfectly wise, how could we please Him if we refuse to accept His yoke upon us?

(Hebrews 11:6) He who comes to God must know that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The idea that there is reward for beings who lack the freewill to seek Him undermines extreme calvinism. God sets us free in Christ as new creations with new possibilities. The possibility to know God, the possibility to love God, the possibility to overcome sin as John tells us in His letter, the possibility to love our neighbors? This last is the hard part because there is risk involved with reaching out. People might not like what I have to say. I might open the door to something that becomes more of a problem than any good I could do.

I think the answer to this is to get back to grace and understand that the burden is off my back. On the foundation of faith in Christ love compels me, but the Spirit and the principles of God's word must lead and guide me. So organic evangelism must not be simply a command we try to follow but a way of life that we learn to live. But there is a paradox when we consider teachings like the parable of the talents. It seems that as well as including much leading of the Spirit and plenty of guidance by the word, God gives us stuff and our own mature zeal for the Lord largely determines our reward. Is it reasonable that he who starts with more ends with more fruit for the kingdom? Maybe, but what does it really mean.

I added the gifts test app to my profile and my wife and I both took it. I came out prophet, teacher,... That is who I have been for fifteen years or so. Though I like to pride myself on having the gift of helps too. My wife came out mercy, exhorter, server... The exhorter part surprised me because that is often something that a person called to prophetic office has and I had felt that was there with her but some gifts take time to be revealed. What am I saying? Be yourself and keep seeking the best gifts, as Paul said. We are all a special part of the Body and we can seek God for more and more of Himself, laying ourselves down to be more and more useful to Him. But let me end by going back to the importance our own participation. Paul said it was his great joy to offer the gospel for free and it was something he did as an offering to the Lord that the gospel be not hindered. We each can find room for a zeal that reflects our heart for the Lord and make something a priority, as an act of love for God, which is peculiarly our own offering to the Lord. Maybe it will be in the moment when we say 'I'm going five miles with this guy.' Maybe it will be a life choice to keep working with the IC pastors in our area because we know that many IC people are saved and many need to be. Paul said 'Woe unto me if I do not preach the gospel, for I am compelled to do so.' But the honest zeal with which we love God is like the day your child spontaneously does something nice for you and honors you for the love you have shown, or maybe they start to be enough like you that their creativity comes out in the way they love you. There is room for this liberty within the guidelines of Scripture. Afterall, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

May the Lord guide us and inspire our zeal for good works.