God Bless You

July 31, 2023

“…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” - Luke 12:48

With great blessing comes great responsibility. And who has been more blessed than the children of the Most High God? We, who were once enemies of God but have been brought into His glorious light. We, who were once idolaters, thieves, sexually immoral, adulterers, liars, greedy, and drunkards but have been washed and made right with God (1 Corinthians 6). We were orphaned spiritually because of sin and God, by His choice, adopted us into His family so that we can call Him Father. At just the right time, while we were dead in sin, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6).

This old hymn tells our story:

“Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin!”

We will spend eternity praising the Father and His Son Jesus for saving our souls. And yet, if our focus is solely on what God has done for us, we will have missed the point. He has given us the fullness of His love, mercy, and grace. And while we do not have to work for salvation, these blessings do carry responsibilities. Ephesians 2:10 says that we have been saved to do good works that God has planned beforehand. This is evidence that our salvation is not for us alone, but also for the sake of others.

We have the amazing opportunity and privilege, as children of God, to participate in His work. We have been granted the authority to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). What was Christ’s ministry? It was to bring the message of the gospel. It was to show sinners the way to the Father. Christ has entrusted His message to us. He has given us the authority to share it boldly. He has placed His Spirit within us to lead us and empower us as we do His work. He has given us His Word to equip us for every good work. We have been given everything we need.

So, the question isn’t, “Can I tell others about Jesus?” The question is, “Will I?”

Dear Father, thank you for saving Me. I do want to join You in Your work. I can see that You are moving and working all the time. Sometimes I just feel unprepared and inadequate. Sometimes I’m just lazy. Please change my heart and make me a bold messenger for You. Help me to remember Your Word, cling to Your Son, walk in Your Spirit, and rely on Your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Topics: Salvation

Bible Reference

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”