Every day you live you’ll be presented with opportunities to ‘grow in grace’. And you must always be open and receptive to them. A grandmother celebrating her fiftieth wedding anniversary shared the secret of her long and happy relationship: ‘On my wedding day I decided to make a list of ten of my husband’s faults, which for the sake of our marriage I would overlook. I never did get around to listing any. Each time he did something I didn’t like, I’d say to myself, “Lucky for him that’s one of the ten!”’ Now there’s a very wise lady!
Physical intimacy may bring us together, but growing in grace will keep us together. So when someone upsets you, instead of responding with angry words or angry silence, remind yourself that God is giving you another opportunity to ‘grow in grace’. And if you don’t do too well with some of the opportunities He sends, don’t worry, He will keep sending more until you get it right!
Resentment is one of the most expensive luxuries you can indulge in. A deep-seated grudge eats away at your peace of mind like a deadly cancer destroying a vital organ. In fact, there are few things as sad as a person who has harboured a grudge for years. Without forgiveness, life becomes an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.
One of the secrets to a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed. It’s the key to having personal peace. So, start getting serious about the Bible admonition: ‘Grow in grace.’
1 Samuel 4-6, John 9:24-41
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