Administer God's Grace

1 Peter 4:8-10 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 
 
YOU could say these three verses are a good definition of the church. Love each other. Joyfully care for one another. Even invite people into your home! Use your spiritual gifts to God’s purpose. Be faithful to administer God’s grace in its various forms. What might that look like?
   One form of God’s grace is to reveal his character. Because God is love he wants the world to know him in this way. We can help each other know God’s love through community Bible studies. If you’re reading this, you are likely involved in some form of Bible study. But is there a way you can help others become Bible students, too? Jesus graciously invited us into his teaching when he said in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you 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 easy and my burden is light.”  The Lord wants his followers to know the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) God is love, so he graciously invites you to know him. Live his gracious love. Invite others to know him.
   Another form of grace is forgiveness. It seems unforgiveness is a great challenge to our human souls. This has weakened and destroyed many families and churches. We view people’s insults or treachery against us as an ultimate sin. “How could anyone insult me? I’m a good person. People should respect me.” That may be true. But none of us is essentially good. We each have faults. Perhaps some fault has caused one to insult or rebuke you. Be gracious to consider your own behavior before judging others. Learn to forgive in all circumstances. Remember Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Who are you to hold unforgiveness in your heart?
   A third form of God’s grace could be the giving of tithes and offerings. This is certainly a sore topic in the church. People do not want to be told what to do with their money. We easily forget the source of our money. God is Provider. He repeatedly tells Israel in the Old Testament that he will provide more than they need if they obey his commands. Some of his commands involve the dedication of particular money to the tabernacle’s and later the temple’s maintenance. Israel was to provide for the Levites, who care for the temple. There were to be devoted sacrifices of the first and best animals and crops. God wanted Israel to trust his provision. Tithing is the only way God will allow us to test him: Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. Do you see that? God promises to open the floodgates of heaven if we trust him with our money.
   These are three ways you can administer God’s grace in various ways. Is there one you’d like to share?