ECP Followers, I (Charles L. Robinson Jr. of Edifying Chrisitan Publications), am writing to encourage you all to think "Grace" (unmerited favor) initially, in the midst of, and afterwards regarding chances for a combination of favorable conditions in life (opportunities in life.) Oftentimes various thoughts of God's goodness encircles favorable opportunities but how often are thoughts regarding God's goodness that supports self unmerit within favorable opportunities. Thoughts of self-unmerit not for self degregation rather than thoughts of self- unmerit that promotes wisdom for appropriate dependecy and sustenance.
For example, the opportunity-favorable condition to possess knowledge regarding God's desires; the opportunity-favorable condition to possess understanding given by God regarding general matters of life; the opportunity to possess a life that reflects pleasing and obedience to God; the opportunity to possess fruit bearing; the opportunity to be rooted and established in strength, patience, and endurance (not grudgingly.) However, when possessing knowledge, understanding, obedience, pleasing, fruit bearing, strength, patience, and endurance, oftentimes there are thoughts of God's goodness but how often are there thoughts of self- impotency coorelating to self-unmerit while actually possessing knowledge; understanding; obedience; pleasing; fruit bearing; strength; patience; and endurance. Once there is realization of self-impotency coorelating to self-unmerit, then spiritual understanding identifies that favorable conditions are rented and not owned (i.e.- grace is identified within the combination of favorable conditions.)
Same examples, favorable conditions such as possessing knowledge of God's desires; understanding given by God in general matters of life; obedience to and pleasing God; fruit bearing; and rooted and established in strength, patience, and endurance (not grudgingly) are rented and not owned. Rent meaning the use of someone else's property and the reflection of their property. Property meaning a quality peculiar to an individual or thing; ownership. Relevant to our example, property is knowledge; understanding; obedience; pleasing; fruit bearing; strength; patience; and endurance. People, illustrated in the next paragraph, are mere reflections of these properties while God (through Christ Jesus) is both a reflection and owner of these properties. Tying this principle into our above statement regarding self-impotency coorelating to self- unmerit, thinking of using (renting) God's properties such as knowledge; understanding; obedience; pleasing; fruit bearing; strength, patience; and endurance should bring greater understanding regarding self-impotency coorelating to self-unmerit relating to grace in favorable opportunities.
The Apostle Paul prayed for a specific people (Colossians) that they might have knowledge; understanding; obedience; pleasing; fruit bearing; strength; patience; and endurance. The oxymoron was that the Church at Colosse already possessed knowledge; understanding; obedience; pleasing; fruit bearing; strength; patience; and endurance. Why did Paul pray that they might possess certain traits that they already possessed? Paul knew that everyone including the saints and faithful brethren at Colosse: the acceptable by God; consecrated; holy; trustworthy; relaible; and believing even needed grace. Although the saints and faithful brethren at Colosse triumphed in their chance-opportunities to possess knowledge; understanding; obedience; pleasing; fruit bearing; strength; patience; and endurance, the Apostle knew they were merely renting these traits in the midst of their triumph. Paul prayed to the owner of these traits (God through Christ Jesus) in hope for the saints and faithful brethren to maintain reflections of these traits (knowledge; understanding; and so forth.) Paul knew the thoughts of God's goodness that encircled the Colossians favorable conditions on the surface, but just as essential, Paul knew the subliminal grace of God that supported the Colossians favorable conditions on the surface. Growing in grace credited the saints and faithful brethern at Colosse from falling and growing in grace would credit the saints and faithful brethern at Colosse their future growth. Paul prayed that the church at Colosse would continue to grow in grace - unmerited favor in the midst of their triump in chance-opportunities of favorable conditions.
ECP Followers, for your spiritual understanding: irrelevant of the circumstance and no exception to the rule, everyone needs grace. May the peace, joy, and love of our Heavenly Father God through Christ Jesus rest, rule, and abide in all of your lives.
Supporting Scriptures:
"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" Colossians 1:2
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: That might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and in increaing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" Colossians 1: 9-11
"For one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit" 1 Corinthians 12:8
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him do it as the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen". 1 Peter 4:10-11
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" John 15: 4-5
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law". Galatians 5:22-23
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