The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. Psalm 37:26
Have you ever written a blog only to hit a key and the whole thing disappear? Beloved, that is what happened yesterday. I was almost finished and hit the wrong key, the problem is I don’t know what key I am hitting. The word today is gracious. The most gracious person I knew was my mother. She died on October 3, 1977, of Multiple Myeloma. I was twenty-five-years-old when God called her home. I have to tell you that losing her was one of the hardest things that have ever happened to me. My mom’s kindness to everyone was a trait to emulate. When money was tight and there wasn’t much food, she would make pancakes for supper like Mickey Mouse and we would celebrate. She opened our home to many such as my cousin who finished her senior year at our home. She loved the Lord and shared the good news with whoever would listen. She loved to laugh and hated escalators. Those two things in combination and one was in for a good time.
Beloved, the eighteenth characteristic of a born-again believer is one who is gracious. Gracious’ defined as courteous, kind, and pleasant. Synonyms of gracious are courteous, polite, civil, chivalrous, well-mannered, mannerly, and decorous. Psalm 112: 3-5 says, “Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment.”
God and his compassion mirror what we are to do as believers. Be gracious.
Beloved, the eighteenth characteristic of a born-again believer is gracious.
My mom would stand at the top of an escalator and laugh to hide her fear of the escalator. And shopping always included reading Hallmark cards my dad would leave us because we would laugh so hard. Did I tell you she was an excellent cook, she made the best ice tea. No one came to our home and didn’t feel love. She defines a gracious person. I am her daughter and I like to think that my generous nature comes from her.
Father God, thank you that you are a gracious God. Lord, help me to be gracious and generous. I pray for the woman who is struggling with her faith that she may know that God you are a compassionate, gracious, God. Lord, in Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Help us to be compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen
What do you need to do to add being gracious to your life?
This post is part of a 31 day series on the Characteristics of a Believer. I am so glad that you are here. To read all of the posts in this series, click here.
