Category Archives: Grace

Bible, Grace, Scripture, Speech, Tongue, Words

SALTY SPEECH

COLOSSIANS 4:6

“Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

When you think of “salty speech,” you probably think of someone who curses a bit too much. My father-in-law was saved late in life and had kind of a salty mouth. He wasn’t crude or rude about it. He had just used these words a long time and would let a word or two slide out every once in a while. I’ve known other people who “cursed like a sailor” (no offense to all my Navy buddies out there).

Paul is not talking about that kind of salty speech today. Salt is used to season things, right? Not enough salt and the food is kind of blah. Too much salt and it is inedible. Paul is saying we should season our speech with just enough grace for the occasion. The Holy Spirit, of course, will guide us in our speech if we will just listen.

APPLICATION

Once again, Albert Barnes gives an excellent description of this “salty speech.” “Salt, among the Greeks, was the emblem of wit. Here the meaning seems to be, that our conversation should be seasoned with piety or grace in a way similar to that in which we employ salt in our food. It makes it wholesome and palatable. So, with our conversation. If it be not imbued with the spirit of piety, it is flat, insipid, unprofitable, injurious. The spirit of piety will make it what it should be – useful, agreeable, beneficial to mankind. This does not mean that our conversation is to be always, strictly speaking, religious – wherever we may be – any more than our food should be mere salt; but it means that, whatever be the topic, the spirit of piety should be diffused through it – as the salt in our food should properly season it all – whatever the article of food may be.”

So, let me ask you a question. How is your speech toward others, especially unbelievers? Do you give too little grace or too much grace? Is your speech palatable? We should weigh our words carefully. I’ve always said that words are like toothpaste. Once they are out, they can’t be put back in. Squeeze carefully.

O Lord, guard my tongue and give me the right words to say.

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Bible, Grace, Reconciled, Relationships, Scripture

THE GREAT RECONCILER

COLOSSIANS 1:20

“and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Reconciliation is a term we use when two parties are at odds with each other and there is an attempt to solve the problem. This sounds easy, but it’s not. Depending on the people involved, this can take a long time. Sometimes, unfortunately, things are never reconciled, and the break is permanent. I have had to experience this in my life. It is painful and hurtful. But we know God heals all wounds. He is the Great Reconciler.

Strong’s Lexicon tells us, “the verb apokatallassó is used in the New Testament to describe the complete and thorough reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the total restoration of a relationship that was once broken due to sin. This term is stronger than the simple form katallassó, indicating a full and complete reconciliation.” Paul is the only Bible author to use this word, and he only uses it three times, once in Ephesians and twice in Colossians.

APPLICATION

In Ephesians 2:16, we see Paul use this word. Let’s back up to verse 15 to get the full context. “15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.” The purpose of God’s reconciliation was peace. It still is.

We will see Paul use this word in Colossians 1:22 in a couple of days. So, with today’s verse and these other two uses, we have the only three times this word is used in the New Testament. That made we wonder something. Since reconciliation is such a big deal, why is it only used three times? That’s a question I will file away and ask the Lord one day.

Remember this from today’s verse. Reconciliation is the total restoration of a relationship that was once broken due to sin. This applies first and foremost in our relationship with God. But it also applies to our human relationships. Sin is what breaks relationships. That sin could be in the life of one or both of the people involved. Keep your life walking in the Spirit so you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. Amen?

O Lord, thank You for reconciling me back into a perfect relationship with You. Help me do that with others.

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Bible, Grace, Incorruptible, Love, Scripture

GRACE BE WITH ALL

EPHESIANS 6:24

“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.”

Today we don’t use the same greetings and farewells that were used in biblical times. For instance, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:12 to “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” Just try that today here in Tennessee. You would probably get slapped, punches or sued. Culture determines certain behaviors.

Paul uses these words in a lot of his letters. Yesterday, we saw him mention peace and love. In today’s verse, it’s all about grace. What did Paul mean when he said, “Grace be with all…”? Well, grace means getting what you don’t deserve. Paul knew these Ephesians. He had spent a considerable amount of time with them. He wanted to remind them as he signed off this letter that nothing is more important than the grace of God and they can show that by loving their Lord Jesus with all their heart.

APPLICATION

Paul wishes grace on us all if… There’s a condition here. Did you catch that? He said, “with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” How do you love someone without corruption? Well, the key is in the Greek word used here for “incorruptible.” It means “lacking the very capacity to decay or constitutionally break down.” (HELPS Word studies)

That word is used in 1 Corinthians 15:42 to describe our heavenly bodies. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;” We are to love our Lord with a love that will never break down. That will never perish. How is that possible? Because when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and live according to His will, His love fills us to overflowing. It is His love reflected back to Him, whom we know is definitely incorruptible.

Let’s ask the hard question. Do you love others that way? Well, now Carl, you are just meddling. Maybe I am. But I want to encourage you to love others, especially those closest to you with this incorruptible love. After all, He gives you His love to share with others. You are just the vessel He uses to express Himself. So, love like Jesus. Give grace like Jesus.

Oh, Father, thank You for giving Paul these words in this letter to encourage me to give grace and love others

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Abundance, Bible, Body, Gifts, Grace, Measure, Scripture

A GRANDMA SCOOP

EPHESIANS 4:7

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

When I was a little boy, I used to love sleepovers at Grandma Carter’s house. She was my mom’s mom. Anyway, she had this big, ole farmhouse about ten or twelve miles from town. Boy, she could cook. I really liked how she would fix our plates for us because a grandma-sized scoop of food was a whole lot more than a mama-sized scoop. She loved to cook for us and loved to watch us eat. We each got a scoop of whatever she was serving, but she didn’t give my sisters as much as she gave me and my brother. I guess she figured we boys needed more sustenance. Man, I wish I had a grandma-sized scoop of one of her desserts right now.

In today’s verse, Paul uses a phrase, “according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” He had just said, “to each one of us grace was given.” So, what is the measuring cup that Christ uses to dispense grace to us? Is it fair that some people seem to get more than others? How does Christ decide who gets how much?

APPLICATION

Have you ever thought about this verse and got a little mad because you felt cheated? We tend to complain about things far too easily. We are not grateful for what Christ has given us. The verse today says grace is given to us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The Pulpit Commentary says this, “In the Church all do not get alike; grace is not given in equal measures as the manna in the wilderness; Christ, as the great Bestower, measures out his gifts, and each receives according to his measure.”

That’s kind of like my Grandma Carter’s scoops of food. She loved each of us the same, but she measured out her scoops according to the needs of each of us. Look at these verses from Romans 12. “3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly:”

In other words, if you are a believer in Christ, He has given you a measure of grace and gifts to accompany that. What are you doing with? How are you serving the kingdom with your gift? Don’t sit there and tell me you don’t have a gift. If you are saved, you have a gift. You are part of the body. The body needs you to exercise your gift in order to make the body whole. Will you do that today?

Lord, I thank You for the measure of grace You have bestowed on me.

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Abundance, Bible, Colors, Grace, Inexpressible, Scripture, Wisdom

MANY, MANY, MANY

EPHESIANS 3:10

“so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

Do you remember as a child getting that brand new jumbo box of Crayola Crayons? If you were lucky, you would get the box with the built-in sharpener. Man, I sure remember opening that box and seeing all those unspoiled, brand new crayons. It seemed every color of the rainbow was in that box. And the smell! That was one great smell.

Paul isn’t talking about crayons in today’s verse. But the word he uses for “multifaceted” could be described that way. It is the Greek word polupoikilos, and it is only used right here. It could literally be translated as “many many many.” Poly is the first part of the word and means much in number. Poikilos is the second part and means many diverse manifestations. Paul is saying the wisdom of God is so diverse, you could never explain it fully.

APPLICATION

My late brother-in-law, Dr. Wayne Barber, used to explain poikilos by comparing how it was used in two other passages, 1 Peter 4:10 and James 1:2. In the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, poikilos is used to describe Joseph’s coat of many colors. With that thought in mind, Wayne would talk about the many colors of trials we see in James 1:2, which reads, “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials.” The word “various” is poikilos.

Then over in 1 Peter 4:10 we see, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.” “Multifaceted” is poikilos. So, we have multi-colored trials, wisdom and grace. Wayne explained that God had just the right color wisdom and grace to match the color trial you were going through.

God’s wisdom and grace are unexplainable. They are too multifaceted for words. You can study these concepts the rest of your life and never exhaust the definitions. Do you trust this inexpressible God with your finite life? You should. He has all the answers you will ever need.

Father, I thank You that no one will ever be able to fully explain the richness of your grace and wisdom.

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Bible, Blessing, Conceit, Grace, Humility, Scripture

THE LEAST OF ALL

EPHESIANS 3:8

“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,”

None of us like to see ourselves as less than someone else. It’s in our old sin nature to puff ourselves up and make ourselves look better than we really are. So, when someone belittles you or cuts you down, you naturally respond. I am not saying that’s right. I just saying it’s the normal response. Should it be?

In today’s verse, Paul humbles himself in one of the most selfless ways. He uses a Greek word, elachistoteros, for “very least” which Strong’s Concordance defines as “less than the least.” That’s not a lot, people. Elachistoteros is only used here in the whole New Testament. Most scholars I read agree that Paul never forgot what God saved him out of. He was persecuting believers, even agreeing to the stoning of Stephen. He could never see himself on par with other saints who had suffered for Christ. In short, Paul never got over grace.

APPLICATION

Reading this verse causes us to think about the issue of humility. Now, that’s a different Greek word, but the idea is the same. Humility means putting others first, lowering yourself to serve others. The perfect passage for this is found in Philippians 2:5-8. “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.” 

A similar passage is found in 1 Peter 4:1. “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” If Christ, the Son of God, was willing to humble Himself to suffer for you, we need to have that same attitude. We should be willing to suffer for others.

Just how much do you think of yourself? Do you think the sun rises and falls because of you? Not hardly. The world does not revolve around any single person. We are called to humble ourselves and pray. We are commanded to humble ourselves and submit to our elders. How are you doing with that?

Father, keep me humble before You. I want to honor You in my service to others.

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Abiding, Bible, Grace, Power, Scripture, Strength

GOD’S POWER

EPHESIANS 3:7

“of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.”

I used to be pretty strong. In high school I even won a weightlifting trophy my junior year. I loved pumping iron. I loved seeing the results in my body. I could bench press twice my body weight and dead lift close to 700 pounds. I was what they called a “stud” when it came to lifting those weights. Well, that was a long time ago and that power has diminished. Without continuing those sessions in the gym, my muscles started getting weaker. Now, here in my 60’s I do good to lift my eyelids, lol.

Oh, but Paul tells us today about another kind of power. It’s the kind that will never fade. The last phrase of this verse says, “according to the working of His power.” Whose power? God’s power. He created the world with just His words. He didn’t touch creation with His hands until when? Until He made man. We are a special creation, touched by the very hands of God. That’s something to shout about!

APPLICATION

When Jesus was on trial before the high priest, He said this in Matthew 26:64. “Jesus said to him, ‘You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Jesus holds the power of God. He is the source of power behind the saving grace of God.

One of my favorite memory passages in 2 Peter 1:3-4. “3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.” What excuse do we have for not living in that grace every day?

Tap into that power source. Not doing so is like living in a house that is connected to the electrical current and never using it. It’s there for us. Ask God to empower you today. He will show you how to live. He will give you the strength you need to face the challenges of this dark world. He is the power source.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me Your power that was exhibited through Your grace

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Bible, God's Will, Grace, Peace, Prison, Rest, Scripture

GIVEN FOR A REASON

EPHESIANS 3:2

“if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you;”

I have received some gifts that made me wonder. For instance, the other day, my wife and I received a package in the mail. It was addressed to us, and when we opened it, we found a card inside. That card had someone else’s name on it. It was a nice wooden chopping block from a reality company. Of course, I called to let them know we had received someone’s gift. And to our delight we found out that we were indeed supposed to receive that gift from our realtor. Someone who was helping package them had accidentally put the wrong card in our package. Glad we got that straightened out.

Paul was in prison, and in today’s verse he tells them why. The Ephesians had received God’s grace through Paul. Paul says, “God’s grace which was given to me for you.” He was simply the conduit, the pipeline, God chose to use. He could have used anything to bring His grace to them, but He chose Paul. Paul gladly suffered as a prisoner so that they could be set free through God’s grace.

APPLICATION

What are your reasons for sharing God’s grace? Do you share it? We are supposed to share it to whomever God allows us to cross paths with. God will use us, just like He did with Paul, if we will let Him. Maybe you can share some grace with your neighbor who doesn’t mow his grass as often as you wish. Do you really think Jesus would be concerned about that? I don’t think so.

I am reading a book written by a friend of mine entitled, ‘Here We Go Again.” (Author is Mark D. West). He makes a statement in it that I really like. Instead of asking the old cliché question – What Would Jesus Do (WWJD), ask WDJD – What Did Jesus Do. He said in Matthew 11:28, “28 ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.’”

Give grace to others. Point them to the Grace Giver. Only He can deliver perfect peace. Only He can give perfect rest. One of our jobs as believers is to pull as many as we can to the Father so they too can receive that grace that the Ephesians received through Paul. His grace is still sufficient.

Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

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Access, Atonement, Belief, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Gifts, Grace, Scripture

SAVED BY GRACE

EPHESIANS 2:8

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” 

One of my memory passages is Ephesians 2:8-9. It is basic to our beliefs. In fact, it is fundamental. You are saved in no other way (we will see more on this tomorrow). It is through the grace of God that any of us can claim salvation and a hope for eternal life. In today’s verse, we see part one of this truth. God’s grace is sufficient for our salvation.

What exactly does Paul mean by this statement, “by grace you have been saved through faith”? HELPS Word-studies defines it this way. “Xáris is preeminently used of the Lord’s favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is “always leaning toward them”).” Paul knew, better than most, the magnitude of God’s grace. It had been given to him, a murderer of Christians, to give him access to the Father.

APPLICATION

But we can’t stop with just this one statement about being saved by grace through faith. Look at the last part of this verse – “it is the gift of God;…” Theologians have wrestled with this verse for centuries. Is grace the gift or is faith the gift? I believe if we look at the construction of the Greek, the answer is there.

Paul says “by grace you have been saved.” We saw this same phrase back in verse 5 of this chapter, but I wanted to wait for today’s verse to explain it. The Greek for this phrase reads, “by grace you are being saved through faith.” The verb is in the Present Indicative Active. It is an ongoing event. It is through your faith that God continues to save you because He is always leaning towards us.

I believe, as many others, that the real gift here is not grace, but faith. We are told in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” Isn’t that just like a gift? We hope for it, but we know it’s coming. God’s gifts to us are sure. Faith is one of them. He gives it freely to all who believe. Do you believe? Have you accepted this gift of faith which yields God’s grace to us?

O Lord, thank You for the gift of faith which allows me to tap into Your grace and my salvation.

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Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Glory, Grace, Love, Power, Riches, Scripture

BOUNDLESS RICHES

EPHESIANS 2:7

“so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” 

I am sure you have heard stories about rich people and their luxurious lifestyles. It’s on television all the time. Names like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos are usually among the top 10 richest. But who was the richest person ever? Mansa Musa (1280-1337)! They say his wealth was incomprehensible. Ever heard of him? I hadn’t either which goes to show you money isn’t the answer to everything.

Aren’t you glad Paul wasn’t talking about monetary riches in today’s verse? God promises us “boundless riches of His grace.” The Greek word used for “boundless” is huperballó. It’s only used five times in the New Testament, three times in Ephesians (1:9; here, and 3:19) and two times in 2 Corinthians (3:10 and 9:14). I want us to look at what Paul uses this word to describe.

APPLICATION

In 2 Corinthians 3:10, Paul uses huperballó to describe God’s glory. “…because of the glory that surpasses it.” Later in the same letter, Paul uses the word to describe God’s grace. 9:14 says, “while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.” So, we have God’s glory that is surpassing and God’s grace which is surpassing.

Then in Ephesians, we saw back in 1:19 “and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Then the last time Paul uses huperballó is in this letter to the Ephesians in chapter 3 and verse 19. “and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” That means in Ephesians, Paul uses that word to describe God’s great power, His great love through Christ and the riches of His grace.

Paul really liked that word, didn’t he? Through the Holy Spirit, he penned those words so long ago which still ring true in our ears. God’s surpassing glory, surpassing grace, surpassing riches of His grace, surpassing greatness of His power and His surpassing love. Wow! God’s riches are truly surpassing. Are you an heir to all of this? If you are a believer in Jesus, you are the richest person in the world!

Thank You, Lord, for the surpassing riches of Your grace towards me.

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