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Written by volunteers with Iron Rose Sister Ministries Crismarie Rivas (daughter) in Ecuador, and Johanna Zabala (mother) in Venezuela
When we talk about grace in relationships, we focus on personal, family, work, social, and friendship areas, immediately connecting them to the precious spiritual aspect because, as we know, grace would not be grace if it had not been given by God.
A clear example in scripture is the apostle Paul, who, through the Holy Spirit, speaks to the church in Ephesus and to us today, affirming that "by grace we have been saved" (Eph. 2:1-10 NKJV).
This shows us the free and undeserved favor that comes from the love and will of God toward every human being on the face of the earth. Also, it carries a series of unique characteristics of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: His love, goodness, compassion, consideration, and mercy shown to each of us.
Today, we live in a society that little knows the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. Because of this, there is very little grace in the world's relationships.
However, for each of us as daughters of God and knowing His will through His grace given through His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to demonstrate grace in relationships, especially in the family of faith. This encompasses everything: love, kindness, compassion, consideration, and mercy.
These are key elements to a genuinely gracious, single-minded relationship with Christ. This relationship leads us to practice the direct command to love one another, as indicated in 1 John 4:7, and links us to obedience to God.
To this effect, the grace of God is a divine and wonderful gift that gives us love, forgiveness, and strength to foster understanding, reconciliation, and spiritual growth that unites us powerfully.
The Bible repeatedly teaches about the application of grace in our relationships. Going back to Ephesians 1:6-7 (NKJV), we are reminded, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he has made us accepted in the Beloved, in Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." This tells us that the grace of God accepts us as we are and frees us from the burden of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Likewise, grace precedes forgiveness and reconciliation. "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Col. 3:13).
Grace calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us. By forgiving, we immediately open the door to reconciliation and maturity in each of our relationships. First Corinthians 13:4-7 beautifully tells us,
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
So, it is great to recognize that grace enables us to be patient and tolerant in all our relationships, reflecting God's love in our conduct and actions. And it is here when grace becomes selfless service, a unique and holy act frees us to serve others with love without expecting anything in return, following the faithful example of the beloved Jesus.
Finally, grace also allows for edifying communication. Ephesians 4:29 reaffirms, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Sanctifying grace is also manifested in the way we communicate. As women of God, when we edify and encourage each other with our words, we show grace to those who listen to us.
In conclusion, beloved sisters, God's grace is essential in every healthy and fruitful relationship. There is an indisputable need to apply it in our personal, family, and spiritual interactions so that we can all experience the fullness of love and peace that comes from God. From now on, may this exclusive favor from the Heavenly Father inspire us to live in grace and to always reflect it in each of our relationships. Let us ask ourselves daily, “Does the grace of the Holy Spirit accompany us and unify us all the time?”
Written by Alina Stout, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Oklahoma
It is no secret that Jesus was close to the family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Luke 10, John 11-12). He was with them through a great trial in their life, and His faithfulness to them led to their devoted thankfulness to Jesus.
Mary and Martha lost their brother Lazarus to an illness. They asked Jesus to come and heal Lazarus, but Jesus waited to come until after He learned that Lazarus died. He did not arrive at Mary and Martha’s house in Bethany until four days after Lazarus had passed (John 11:1-17).
In their moment of grief, Jesus was there for Mary and Martha in the unique way that each of them needed Him as they grieved over Lazarus. They each expressed their faith in Jesus even though it was being tested by inner conflict.
Martha expressed to Jesus her battle between her faith and her grief. “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (John 11:22, ESV). Jesus revealed a truth about Himself to Martha in response to her faith and challenged her to go one step further. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life …Do you believe this?” and she replied, “Yes, Lord; I believe” (John 11:25-27).
Mary expressed to Jesus only sorrow, revealing her grieved frustration that she knew Jesus could have done something to prevent this. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Jesus was “deeply moved in his spirit” by her weeping and He wept with her (John 11:33-35).
Jesus was their friend in the moment they needed Him most. But as the Messiah, Jesus was able to raise their brother Lazarus from the dead!
Mary and Martha each showed their gratitude to their friend and Lord Jesus in different ways.
Martha showed Jesus gratitude by preparing a dinner for Him and His disciples. Her dinner in honor of Him was an expression of the faith that she had in Him. It is the way that she could give back to Jesus for the new life that He gave to her brother. She sacrificed her personal time and effort in order to serve Him (John 12:2).
Mary showed Jesus gratitude in a way that was also a sacrifice for her–almost a year’s wages worth of sacrifice. She anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume and wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3). Mary understood that Jesus is the source of all life. What did she lack? Nothing. When Mary sacrificed a costly perfume bottle, one that could have given her financial security if Lazarus died or could have been used for a future dowry, she chose to give it up out of gratitude for the Resurrection and the Life who will sustain her every need.
Mary and Martha each put Jesus above themselves out of faith and gratitude. They offered their personal sacrifice on Jesus’ behalf because they recognized Him as the Resurrection and the Life. If Jesus is life, then they wanted their life to honor Jesus.
Like Mary and Martha, we get to have a relationship with our Friend and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When we face trials, Jesus is there with us. He is emotionally present with us like He was with Mary. He guides us to knowledge in the truth like He did with Martha. He is present with us like a friend, but He is also our Lord. And when we overcome our trials with Jesus by our side, we are beyond grateful!
Our gratitude to our friend and our Lord and Savior oftentimes looks like sacrifice. It sure did for Mary and Martha! Out of our thankfulness for the life that Jesus has given us, our response is to devote our lives to Him.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1).
Think about how you can devote your life to Jesus as a living sacrifice. What do you have that you can offer to Jesus? What are you willing to give up for Jesus?
Think about how you can encourage your Iron Rose Sisters to join you in your living sacrifice. Mary and Martha might have shown gratitude in their unique ways, but they showed their gratitude together at the same dinner. Is there any way that you can partner with your Iron Rose Sisters by offering your unique methods of gratitude together?
