Grace

Philippians 4:1-9; Collect

I've been thinking a lot about grace this week. What is it for grace to precede and follow us? How must we act in order for this to happen? Do we act always with grace?

For me it is sometimes hard to follow this way. Not always does grace precede or follow me as I know when I get angry at someone who cuts me off on the way to work. Or when a child is rude. There are many things we can think of in which grace does not precede us. We are human and we do think our agenda is most important sometimes.

A few days ago the devotional said that their rector had a Jesus doll people got a chance to carry around with them for a week. This led some to feel very uncomfortable with the doll. This is a very visible sign after all. How does this relate to grace? Well how would you feel if you had a visible sign of God's presence always being there? Would you then enact more grace in your life? Would it be easier if we carried around this visible sign?

Paul is so great with his encouragements. As a matter of fact Paul tells us to encourage one another. Even in Philippians as the letter is ending the encouragement continues, "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." Easy list right? 

This is an example of what it is to have grace precede and follow us. Encouragement can lift our hearts though. It is how we sometimes get our mind out of darker places or words of discouragement which can heavily follow us in life. Encouragement is a grace itself. It helps us to lift ourselves and others when we are perplexed and down. 

This is why Paul encourages them to think on these things. Picture it. A daily encourager helping you to set your mind on what is good, what is pleasing, and what is excellent. Think of a newscast of this and how this would help others set their frame of mind in wonder and praise. 

Too often we get so focused on what is bad that we are overwhelmed with the thoughts. It wasn't better in Paul's day. People were easily lost at sea, killed on the road by bandits, and children abused and left to fend for themselves. Life was harder and more complex because it took more work to do the simple things such as have bread and food for the day. Yet Paul asks them to look for the places which are good. The places which lift the spirit and help someone carry on.

Why? because grace brings hope. Not only does it put you in a better frame of mind which puts others in your sphere in a better mind, but it brings with it hope. Hope is a thing unseen which can only be encouraged to grow when we are in mind of grace.

After all grace is free. It is something intangible which we try to put frail words to and find them lacking in the fullness of what it is. It is like trying to describe the leaves at this time of year to someone who has never experienced their color, but they know the feeling of what it inspires in you. 

So try something new this week. Look at the things which bring encouragement and bolster your heart. Take time to write them down and watch and see how grace precedes and follows you. Plant that hope in each others hearts.