In grace-full living, we are changed by God’s grace, and that same grace makes our gifts more valuable to others. We are reminded, for example, in Romans 12:4-8 that we are all members of one body in Christ – and that we each have different gifts according to the grace given us. That passage asks us to thoughtfully consider our place in the church so that we may model the gifts and skills we have been given.
We all show generosity toward others not only in how we use our financial resources, but in how we spend our time and energy. Such generosity is truly a wonderful expression of God’s grace. Giving willingly and with the optimism that our gifts will be used toward God’s work is how we model grace-full generosity. Giving in celebration rather than in competition with others leads us to the fullest support of important opportunities and ministries, as we are all one in the body of Christ.
This message is excerpted from “Grace-full living” by Emily Hansen in the July/August 2015 Gather magazine.
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