Discerning Grace
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
In Cana, the joyous wedding celebration is in full swing. Jesus is there with His mother, Mary and His disciples. Mary is suddenly called away and comes back in a panic with the news that the hosts have run out of wine. While she is looking imploringly at Jesus, He says to her, “What does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” But Mary knew that He was able to come to the aid of their friends who found themselves in this tight spot. She did not know how, but she knew that he would. So she instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do (John 2:4-5). They fill jars with water at Jesus’ request. When they draw from the jars, they are amazed when they realise that the water has miraculously turned into wine. When the master of the feast tastes the wine, he remarks,
A host always serves the best wine first.......But you have kept the best until now! John 2:10
Grace Upon Grace
What is our response when faced with situations like these? We are living our lives, going about our daily business, when we hear about someone in need. Do we act dismissively? Do we become exasperated with them, blaming them for their foolishness? Do we think, “How on earth did they get themselves into this mess....again? There will be times when God will knock on the door of our hearts and ask us to help someone in need. Jesus may be calling us to help them because He has given us the ability to help. Jesus may be calling us to extend grace to them, as He has extended grace upon grace to us. His blessings upon blessings. His favour upon favour.
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16 (ESV)
When we face a situation like this, we take it to the Lord in prayer. We pray for discernment so that we know that God wants to use us for the person in need. We need discernment so that we will not be led by our emotions, but by Holy Spirit. We also need wisdom to understand how we are to meet the person's needs. When we do, He will guide us so that we see the person and the need through His eyes and feel with His heart. He will guide us so that we can freely give out of the superabundance of grace and love that He has so freely given us.
By judging others, we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Reflection:
Are there people in your sphere of influence who are in need? Pray and ask God whether He wants to use you to meet their need.
Prayer:
Lord, I see the need around me. Help me not to be led by my emotions. Give me discernment to know whether you want to use me for a particular need. I need Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
