Taking Stuff Apart

When I was a kid, my brother and I were always taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they worked. Now - don't get me wrong - we didn't necessarily break things, but if something was broken or not working right, we were quick to try to figure out why.

With that thought in mind, let's take our memory verse for this week apart and see how it works.

Hebrews 12:15
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God.  Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.  (New Living Translation)

The NASB says it this way:
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

the NIV-
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

and the King James
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;

Hmm...

"Look after each other"  not look after some, but each; not look after your friends.  Each includes every single one.  - Hold that thought for a minute -

"so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God" or as worded in the NASB  "no one comes short of the grace of God"  that phrase comes short- when I looked up the definition of it's original meaning, I found myself screnching my toes back into my shoes just a tad.  Here's a few of the phrases my eyes fell upon:  to suffer need, to be in want, be destitute.

If we were to replace that phrase with it's definition, it would read something like this:
Look after each other so that no one suffers need of the grace of God
Look after each other so that no one is in want of the grace of God
Look after each other so that no one is destitute of the grace of God

If I am looking after other people and find someone in need of the grace of God, I should give them that grace. 

Yes - even the person who cursed at me and treated me terribly. Yes, that happened to me this week :)
Yes - even the person who made a mistake after explicit instructions were given.
Yes - even the person whose opinion differs from mine on important issues.
Yes - even that coworker, in the moment they irritate you most, is in need of God's grace extended.

Now that we have all of the screws out of this verse and little pieces scattered everywhere, just think on that today and look for people in need of some grace, and next week, we'll talk more about how this verse works and about why to extend that grace.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!
Love you all,



Royal Princess Daughter Of The King