As you may have guessed by now, I like to play around with titles. Not all our blogs from Joy have titles, but I find it helps me focus on an idea, a theme. Today’s can be interpreted in several different ways. If you had a sibling named Grace, you may have had disagreements with them. In that case, today’s title could mean getting along with them better. Or, if the word “cooperating” had a comma after it. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther, and St. Paul want us to understand that grace isn’t cheap. If I had capitalized “grace” in those last words, you might draw the conclusion that Grace is a high-maintenance date! Grace does not come without great price, but neither is it understood in a legalistic way. This leads us to the next step, which is cooperating with the grace of God.

In Christ we are a new creation, forgiven and identified as children of God. Our baptized self is thereby challenged to apply this gift of salvation. On our own, impossible; but with God, definitely possible! We need that strength, that total reliance on God’s power, because the tempter is always “nibbling at our toes”. “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘you must be holy because I am holy’” (I Peter 1:14-16). I Corinthians 12 contains a “laundry list” of spiritual gifts. In any and every congregation, there are a variety of these gifts. We exhibit these not for the acclaim and adoration they might bring. For pastors in this time of viral pandemic, it is especially important to not get caught up in the “clicks” and “likes” our messages might bring on social media. It is hard not to “play to the camera”. As we all try to wrap our heads around what the future weeks and months hold, we can easily sink into despair.

Cooperating with grace cannot begin without daily remembering crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus is the grace-giver. It is a progressive journey; like waves breaking endlessly on the shore. It is walking alongside us. It reminds us to be kind, patient, and understanding. Grace bears its sweetest fruit when we are repentant and confessing. When we trust the Lord and believe in His promises, we experience fullness of joy and grace. Grace is the throne we kneel before. The gift of grace may seem out of grasp in times of crisis and physical distance from our Christian brothers and sisters. But I assure you that grace is found mostly in the lap of God’s Word. That continuing story is your guidepost and anchor. God’s abiding, constant, forever promise is that He will love you unconditionally.

Pastor Art