Receiving the grace of God requires follow through…opening wide your heart.

In other words, those who minister with hearts wide open may at times (like Paul) be treated with restrictive feeling and emotion when new believers are reticent or sitting on the proverbial fence (half in the world and half in Christ).

Now is the day of salvation (the moment when the Holy Spirit draws you to the Father). Do not receive this grace in vain. Make it count for God’s glory.

When the church gives freely of their love towards one another, God is glorified (I John 4:7).

“Agape” love is from God, it is for everyone and is different from “Eros” love (also in the Greek) which is meant for our spouse, or “Philia” love, which is for our family/brothers/sisters. Wikipedia

Affection, which is spoken of in this passage has to do with the bowel, intestine or seat of emotions. Bible hub Is it possible to love others without engaging our emotions?

My experience has been that when I widened my heart, I have also been introduced to greater needs. I’m learning to not let the “needy” rest on my shoulder but somehow connect their life to the life of Christ, then stand back to watch a tremendous miracle happen, especially in myself.

This can be through exchanging a kind word, giving a healing roller ball (I’ve been praying for those in need of healing and offering essential oil recipes), praying in tongues over situations that are dire, giving/sharing with those in my “church family” where I see a need, and meditating on the Bible (my heart) in these weekly blogs.

Whatever your unique gifting and calling, I look forward to hearing from you by reading your blogs, poems, short stories and videos to also be encouraged. -Teresa #hisyokeiseasy #hisburdenislight #Mat11:30

2 Corinthians 6:1-13English Standard Version**

6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴ but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; ⁷ by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;⁸ through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken freely to you,^[a] Corinthians; our heart is wide open. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. ¹³ In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

*photo credit: pexels-radovan-zierik-2858901.jpg

**OneyearBibleonline