We are God’s Agents of Grace and Hope in the World
By Rev. Dr. Melinda Contreras-Byrd, Contributing Writer
First Peter 4:10 says, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” The idea of “grace” is a concept found within all major religions. Christian theologians define God’s grace in a very specific way. Within these definitions, grace is seen as God’s unmerited favor bestowed through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
“If you love me, feed my sheep,” Jesus told his disciple. God’s beloved children are of utmost importance to God. It is both awe-inspiring and humbling to realize the truth that God gives this honor and privilege to us. Due to Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, every believer has received a gift. First Peter 4:10 enjoins us to “serve one another.” It is not just the pastor and ordained clergy who are called into service or “ministry.”
There is a ministry of all believers defined as “stewardship,” a word with which most of us are familiar. Stewards are those who someone had entrusted to guard and have jurisdiction over something of value in their stead. Stewards are people who have been deemed to be those who can be trusted to be wise, honest, and responsible.
What is more amazing than the fact that God would count us worthy of stewardship is the fact of what it is in which we have stewardship. The scripture says that we are to be stewards of the manifold grace of God! In other words, God has seen fit to put us in charge of giving out God’s grace to those with whom we come into contact.
Until the death and resurrection of Jesus, such an act was done by only God. The new relationship created through Jesus’ death enables us to become “heirs and joint heirs” with Jesus in a relationship with God, take hold of God’s grace, understand the richness and blessing of the unmerited favor of God, and then freely dispense it just as we have been so freely gifted with it.
Each of us makes the choice in life to either give people what they deserve or to be stewards, dispensing the manifold grace of God. God characteristically gives a good deal of second chances, kindness in response to evil. God’s character is to give more than what one deserves. God grants gifts that are not deserved or due to us based upon our behavior.
Grace, then, is given according to love. The scriptures say that grace springs forth from God in all directions, looks all kinds of ways, and is given to all kinds of people undeservedly and at unexpected times. If you are a follower of Jesus the Christ, then you have been given the honor of being called into a special kind of spiritual stewardship for the sake of the kingdom. Realize that you have so much more than you deserve or recognize.
To be a steward over something, it has to be in your possession. You have God’s grace. Can you feel it? Reminding you that no one can judge you but God who has already judged you and found you “not guilty” for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Do you recognize God’s grace? It holds you back from saying and doing things that, although true or merited, would not please God’s heart or further the kingdom. Despite all of our shortcomings and that we remain works in progress, we have been given the unspeakable honor to house within our persons the manifold grace of God!
Do you remember it? It consoled you when others judged you. The grace of God was just what you needed but didn’t have the good sense to want. It was given when you were not at your best and someone was sent to show you love, patience, and concern.
The epitome of grace—God sending a just Jesus to die in place of unjust humanity—thereby opens a way for us to reach the One who loves us best. In Christ, God’s grace is the beginning and end of our lives.
What great joy it is to know that we have a clear gift and call. It is to be the stewards of the manifold grace of God!
