"The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21).
In Pastor Joy's sermon "Generous God, Amazing Grace, Grateful Recipients", she began by noting that God has done everything for us to be in right relationship with Him.
It was God who created us; God who gave us life and purpose; God who provided for our needs; and God who covered our glaring inadequacies.
The story of God's response to the fall of Adam and Eve shows a clear example of what Pastor Joy defined as grace. And just as God responded to the need and the sin of Adam and Eve by providing them animal skins for clothing in place of their fig leaves, in the same manner Christ Jesus responded to our need and sin by giving Himself as a sacrifice in place of our inadequate, senseless effort to redeem ourselves.
God has shown us grace. Can we show grace to others?
-A grace that is lived out from the heart, not just the intellect?
-A grace that is demonstrated in radical, conspicuous, counter-cultural expression?
-A grace that pushes us out of our comfort zone and into a place where we obey the Holy Spirit without hesitation?
To quote Pastor Joy, "grace calls us to the place where we are stretched". Let's truly be willing to allow God to stretch us, mold us, and shape us into what He needs us to be for the sake of His kingdom.
LORD God, there are a few people in Bronx Bethany who want You to strip them of their fig leaves and clothe them in Your sacrificial love. Teach us how to extend ourselves for others, just as You have done for us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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