May 22nd | To Each of Us Grace Has Been Given

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

TO EACH OF US GRACE HAS BEEN GIVEN

Ephesians 4:7 “ . . . to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” 

Thomas Winger in his Ephesians commentary defines grace as, “. . . an attitude or quality in God by which He is disposed to act kindly toward His people.” Yesterday’s devotion focused on the “one body” of Christ. Today you read in Ephesians 4:7, all Christians are “one in Christ” because they share the very same gifts from God because of His grace. Even though each Christian is a unique creation of God, every one is acted upon by God in a kindly way.   

God’s grace is received by every member of Christ’s body as a gift. Not one member of Christ’s body deserves it. It is received because of the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Where grace is concerned every member of Christ’s body receives God’s grace as Jesus apportions it and the Holy Spirit distributes it. 

St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” In the end, though the gifts received are different the giver remains the same and the effect is likewise the same. The body of Christ is created and maintained. It exists to do the will of God and give Him glory and honor. At the same time each member uses God’s gracious gifts in service to one another. 

It is by God’s gifts of grace that the body of Christ remains united. This is because these gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit through the power of the Gospel, the water of Baptism connected to God’s word, and the bread and wine of Holy Communion also connected to Gods word. Through these means of grace, the body of Christ is formed and maintained. You remain united with Christ by your Baptism. And, in Holy Communion forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are received. “ . . . to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7) 

Prayer: Thanks and praise be to You, O Lord, for the precious gift of grace You have given me. Amen. 

Lord of all nations, grant me grace
To love all people, ev’ry race;  
And in each person may I see 
 My kindred, loved, redeemed by Thee. 

Break down the wall that would divide  
Thy children, Lord, on ev’ry side.  
My neighbor’s good let me pursue;  
Let Christian love bind warm and true. 

Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred
By loveless act and thought less word.
Make me to see the wrong I do  
Will grieve my wounded Lord anew. 

Give me Thy courage, Lorde, to speak  
Whenever strong oppress the weak.  
Should I myself the victim be,  
Help me forgive, remembr’ing Thee. 

With Thine own love may I be filled  
And by Thy Holy Spirit willed.  
That all I touch, where’er I be,  
May be divinely touched by Thee.  (LSB 844)