How do you see other Christians? When you look at others, what are you looking for? What do you see? Do you have a default way that you generally tend to look at other people? Do you find yourself looking for the negative in others? Their flaws, sins, or weaknesses? Do you tend to be critical in your assesstments? I want to suggest a wonderful new way to look at people and relate to them in ways that will build them up and draw others to be around a person like you. It is a way of relating that makes the church a free, safe, and beautiful place. It is a way of relating that will winsomely attract others to you.
Instead of looking for something wrong in others, start looking for evidences of God’s grace working in others. This means actively looking for ways that God is at work in the lives of others. The practice of identifying evidences of grace in others is drawn particularly from 1 Corinthians 1:1-9,
“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
I am deeply touched by Pauls view and attitude towards these people! What we see here of Paul’s attitude toward the Corinthian church and his sincere affection for the believers is a profound demonstration of the grace of God. I find his attitude towards them extraordinary because there were few churches that ever needed more criticism and adjustment then this motley crew of Corinth!
When he wrote this letter he addressed several serious problems with them: There was serious doctrinal error, divisions, immorality, lawsuits among them, a misunderstanding and abuse of their gatherings as a church body, misuse of the gifts, an active resistance to his apostolic authority. And yet in the opening lines of his letter Paul communicates a remarkable affection for these people. He says, “I give thanks to my God always for you.” Why? “Because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus” (verse 4). Paul recognized evidences of God’s grace working among the Corinthians who needed adjustment, and he therefore continually thanks God for them. Paul saw the Corinthians from a divine perspective, and he allowed this perspective to determine his attitude towards them. If Paul could find evidences of overflowing grace even in the Corinthian church, what could possibly excuse us from finding evidences of grace in our fellow believers?
From what divine perspective did Paul look at others? What went into shaping Paul’s divine perspective, so that his eyes were wide open to see and savor the evidences of grace in the lives of the Corinthians?
1. First, he saw the fact that God’s grace had been at work in them.
Notice first, Paul uses the word “called” three times in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 1(verses 1,2,9). The word “called” (Greek, kaleo) is one of the most frequent one-word descriptions of the Christian. In using it, Paul is especially acknowledging and affirming God’s sovereign grace and is reminding us of God’s prior activity: We were acted upon by God before we ever responded to Him. The “call” is God’s summons to which we respond. God had mercy on us in our sinful corruption and intervened in our lives. Our salvation is owed completely to the sovereign grace of God. God’s prior activity has brought us to where we are today.
Oh what a difference in our perspective when we remind ourselves that every believer we encounter has been previously acted upon by God. As a result, Paul could say, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge”. That is the divine perspective that we must begin with otherwise we will look at others deficiencies rather than the evidences of grace in their lives. Paul knew that the Corinthians had been called by God and he was more aware of this prior activity than he was in their present failings.
This fact for Paul sustained Paul by imparting faith for change in others and perseverance for the process of change in others. The call of God in the lives of others means that God has been at work in them, and the evidences of grace mean secondly, that...
2. Paul saw that God is at work in the present in the lives of others.
Oh how much we can bless, encourage, and motivate others when we perceive where and how God is at work in thier lives and letting them know.
Paul says in Philippians 2:13, “God is at work to will and perfect…” To many people think about the absence of God in others lives rather than the presence of God and too many know about others sins more than they know of God's amazing grace. Paul affirms to these flawed, weak, but also previous called by God and graced by God: “The testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift…” Paul says, “I see that God is working in you!” Oh how we motivate others when we see this, and oh what joy it is when we are a community of believers who affirm this to each other. Do you realize how the spirit works in each other? Every time a person loves their enemies or unconditionally, has joy in sorrow, is at peace during the storm, is patient and persevering not complaining nor quitting, gentle, humble, and full of faith; every time that one speaks the word of God, serves in the strength that God supplies, that God is supernaturally working His power in action! If God is God He is presently working in my brothers and sisters life. That is something we need to believe and speak to ourselves and each other.
3. Paul was confident for their future in the faithfulness of God’s future grace working in them.
Here was a church that was anything but strong or blameless, yet Paul both sees and assures them that the Lord “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful…” (verse 8). Paul is full of confidence about this church’s future. Oh how often in my judgmental pride, I am not saying that about others! That is because I too often misplace my confidence in man instead of God. Paul’s confidence for the weak, immature, failing Corinthians was anchored in his confidence in the faithfulness of God. "The faithfulness of God triumphs over the flaws of men. "
Paul’s next words are these “I am sure that God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is the same confidence that Paul expressed in these words to the church of Philippi: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). This can free us to be patient, merciful, gracious, and loving towards our fellow Christians. It is to focus upon his intent for our lives and His power over our lives, turning prostitutes into holy women of God. And in this is the true source of confidence towards others-the faithfulness of God triumphs over the flaws of men. God by His grace worked, is working, and will work in your brother’s life.
Oh how we need this perspective towards ourselves and towards others so that we can experience faith for change and perseverance for the process. Practically speaking, let me ask some questions: What about your family? What about your husband or wife? In interactions with you, what is your spouse more aware of-evidences of grace that you’ve noticed, or the disapproval that you need to change or grow? What about your children? When was the last time you informed your child of an evidence of grace thay you’ve observed in his or her life? What about in your local church? Would people tend to view you as a fault finder? Is your spiritual gift the ministry of criticism or discouragement? Or do people know that you are someone who will actively call attention to the evidences of God’s gracious work in their lives and in the church?
Paul looked at the Corinthian church as it is in Jesus before he looked at anything else that was true of the church. Yes, people and the church may have flaws, yes people and the church needed some correcting, but not without seeing first what God had done, is doing, and will do through Jesus Christ! Ask for God for the grace to give you eyes to see others through His past, present, and future grace. Ask God to help you follow Paul’s example and to become preoccupied with the divine perspective that makes possible the deepest affection for others, as well as effective service and ministry of extending God’s grace in your attitudes, words, and ministry activities to them.
How about this week you prayerfully, intentionally, and lovingly come up to someone to edify and encourage them by telling them the evidences of grace that you see in their lives. Watch what happens and feel the joy in your soul of giving a verbal blessing to someone else!
Looking to see others in a new way,
Pastor Bill
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