“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT)
We are created with an eternal component, yet we are captive to a finite and physical body. We may involve ourselves in many things that keep us busy, but these things also stretch our physical limits. Eventually, we grow tired, but we take a quick breath and keep on pushing through. Is this the way we were meant to live…constantly being pulled, stretched, and stressed in a million ways? No, but we keep piling the next item on our list. What about our relationship with God? Are we willing to take on growth in our spiritual disciplines such as studying the Bible, praying, joining a small group, or becoming active in issues of social justice?
Through and by God’s grace, we are strengthened and nourished during times of feeling stretched. I define grace as: God helping us in His mercy. We load our calendars with tons of things that will temporarily satisfy us, but we will find rest, encouragement, and strength in times of feeling immensely bent and stretched when we partake of God’s grace through spiritual disciplines. We find even more nourishment when we receive the gifts of sacraments in baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These sacraments – a very thin place between humanity and God – are channels of God’s grace that Christ Himself instructed we do. Remember your baptism – your incorporation into God’s grace – and be nourished by faith when you eat and drink of the Lord’s Supper. Here, we find rest. Here, we find strength, and here, we find grace when we feel like we’re about to break.
IronMaker’s Daily Challenge: Receive God’s grace today, and be willing to be a channel of God’s grace to someone today. When you notice someone feeling stretched, offer them encouragement, even if it’s someone you have never met.
Prayer: Lord Jesus of Nazareth, High Priest of Heaven, relieve me of stress, and fill me with your grace. Amen.
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