Paul invites us to ask “how will I have a candid conversation with God?”, asking him to build up in us a fruitfulness of humility and grace; to see the living transaction of turning to God in need of joy and genuine gratitude to the living God, to develop an intelligent love for others and a wise lifestyle in our own lives.

God misses nothing.  As we live in a consequence laden world, are we aware of the grace and mercy of God to us, particularly in Jesus.  One way to identify that is to ask what has God shown you most recently,  that humbled you to be softer in the way you have spoken to someone who hurt you deeply.  Or in the face of temptation, what fruit of Jesus helped you to not give in, instead you were aware of being carried by the grace of Christ, because God is loyal to his people, as we read in verses 21-22:

21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,  22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Paul reminds us that everything is revelatory, including blessings.  These good or bad situations always reveal to us our master.  Standing firm in Christ warns us to expect we will be sinned against, expect that you will be wronged.  God never minimizes the temptation we face.  Our lives are to be a work of progressive sanctification, looking more to Jesus so that we can look more like Jesus.

God is tough minded when we return evil for evil.

Lets pray…

kkk