Sharing God's Grace

DEVOTION

PHILIPPIANS

SHARING GOD’S GRACE

Phil 1:7-8

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
NIV

What does is mean to share in the grace of God? I believe we first need to see just what is this grace Paul speaks about in verse 7. The Greek word he uses is:
charis

NT:5485 charis (khar'-ece); from NT:5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):

It is this especially definition I draw my attention to, “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude.
Each believer shares in the divine influence upon his heart, which means God is speaking and directing each heart that has yielded itself to him. To be a partaking in this divine influence does require the setting aside of self. It is so easy to be influenced by myself, my own desires or by some out side source, some other voice calling out for my attention. To be influenced by my own demands or by society’s demands, either has its roots in humanity rather than in God. The scripture is clear regarding the heart of mankind.


Ps 119:36-37
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
NIV

This is the prayer of my heart, I do not want to see and desire, or hear those voices and respond, and I want to see and hear God and thus have his influencing my life. I also want this for my fellow believers; I want to share the Grace.