I often hear people trying to define or measure grace based on how tolerant of sin or obnoxious behavior in others we might be. The nicer we are to them the more grace we exhibit. Although it is true that grace can change the way we respond in situations involving sin it also enables us to understand our place in all areas of life and keeps us from barging into things we have no business being in. Grace enables us to respond to authority with humility.
We are living in a generation that seems more and more out of touch with this truth in life. There seems to be a growing contempt for authority on any level.
For instance: Scripture teaches us to respect our elders due to their years of life and wisdom. A humble person is more than willing to extend this kind of courtesy to the elderly.
In the Scripture we are told that the older women in the church are to teach the younger women some specific things about life.
The only way this exchange of wisdom and practice can occur is if the older women are willing to impart and the younger women have the humility to listen, watch and learn.
If we remove the ability to know our place in the body we all will eventually suffer from it. Although we have all received grace and our salvation is on equal footing, there is an order to things.
In speaking to the church of Corinth regarding the issue of order the Holy Spirit moves Paul to use the analogy of the human body and express what kind of chaos would result if certain body parts started to think they no longer needed each other or decided they wanted to have a more honorable position.
1Corinthians 12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
We need each other and we need each other through humility to know our place and by grace enjoy being there.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
