Romans 12:3-8
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: ifprophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Have you ever had the experience of a store clerk who was spouting the company line, “Thank you for shopping at our store…” with little or no enthusiasm, and body language that he was anything but thankful for your business? Contrast that with my experiences at Chick-Fil-A(R)! When I say, “Thank you,” they say, “My pleasure,” and seem sincerely to mean it. It seems to me – most of the time to be a genuine expression of delight to be able to serve me: Refreshing!
The Christian life of loving service to our fellow man should be much like the latter and seldom or ever like the former. There is a powerful energy behind the servant’s heart of a follower of Jesus. That energy is God’s grace. Grace is God’s goodness and mercy toward us by his initiative and from a giving heart. Grace is kindness and generosity flowing from God to us even before we ask or admit that we need it. Grace is love and tenderness on the part of God toward you and me. Grace is God’s gift through Jesus Christ, his redemption and our salvation.
When grace hits the heart of the believer we are compelled to look toward one another in the body of Christ, to appreciate each other for who we are in Christ, and to use the gifts and talents God has given us for the good of others. Just as grace has many facets as it intersects our lives, so it works itself out in many ways into the lives of others.
Has God’s grace flowed into your heart? Is if flowing from there into the hearts and lives of others?
David Bahn - Reflections 
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