Diane Virginia: Equal Opportunity (3-Min)
He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
~Hebrews 7:25 KJV
“Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” James and John said to Jesus.
The disciples didn’t believe in equal opportunity for men they perceived to be enemies. Can you imagine their surprise when Jesus rebuked them rather than the Samaritans?
Jesus was wrestling with His greatest mission—to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin. In a matter of days, He would hang on Calvary’s cross, so it was natural that His countenance showed this distress. The Samaritans had misinterpreted this and the disciples were ever ready to defend Jesus but He had a different response. He chose to extend grace. He knew they had lost their way and He loved them enough to die to save them.
But perhaps the discouragement Jesus was feeling was because the disciples did not realize they should emulate unconditional grace. These were two of His trusted three of the inner circle, and they wanted to seek revenge instead of extending grace.
Friend, if I’m totally honest, I can be like James and John at times. It goes against my fleshly nature to extend grace to an enemy. But my Savior requires me to do so.
Did the Samaritans who made Jesus’ Jerusalem journey troublesome deserve grace? Our Savior showed them grace anyway. Did the thieves who hung on crosses alongside Jesus deserve grace? Both men had an equal opportunity to receive grace. One man accepted, and to this man, Jesus said, “Truly, I say unto you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43 ESV).
Do I deserve grace? I do not. But Jesus showers me with grace. He does the same for you, my friend. When we emulate unconditional grace like we see Jesus model for us, we receive His empowerment to win souls for the kingdom.
How can you shower someone in your sphere of influence with God’s grace?
Lord Jesus, help me to be an equal opportunity giver of grace.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Genre: Creative Biblical non-fiction
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