Imparting Grace and the Communion of Saints

We had a great small group last night where we talked about the communion of the saints and the importance of being with other Christians in our walk with Christ. We talked about Paul's exhortations at the end of several of his letters to the brothers and sisters at Corinth, Ephesus and Galatia.

Paul encouraged them to show each other love, grace, peace and to agree with one another (one could imply that he would mean as far as the Gospel and charity would allow) and the love and peace of God will be with you.

It's very easy to like someone that you love or already are at peace with--but what about someone who rubs you the wrong way or is mean? And I'm talking about another Christian! The Scriptures tell us that we cannot say that we hate our brother and yet love Christ because that brother that we despise is a part of the Body. This can be so difficult to do and yet we are called to do it.

We often become myopic when looking and judging others for their sin and at th same time forgetting our own struggles and iniquities--"love the sinner, hate the sin" we might be quoted as saying, but does it actually look that way in practice?

Do we "pray" for others by almost gossiping about other Christians struggles and sins? Or do we actively seek their restoration and sanctification by encouraging and praying with them? We as the local body of believers (and as the invisible Body world over and through time) are in this together. We were created for interdependence with one another.

Go and impart grace to one another today, sowing seeds of peace and restoration among the local body of believers and community that you are a part of, so that God may be glorified.