God's Generosity ... our generosity ...

          "God is superabundantly generous in His grace ..."

"[T]he Gospel ... does not give us counsel and aid against sin in only one way. God is superabundantly generous in His grace: First, through the spoken Word, by which the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world [Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.' (Luke 24:45–47)]. This is the particular office of the Gospel. Second, through Baptism. Third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourth, through the Power of the Keys. Also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, 'For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.' (Matthew 18:20) and other such verses [especially: '... that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith ...' (Romans 1:12)]. Smalcald Articles: III, art. iii, par. 45

     What a list of gifts God has given His people! The spoken Word ... Baptism ... Holy Communion ... the Power of the Keys ... Mutual  conversation and consolation between brothers and sisters in Christ ... 

     In the aftermath of Thanksgiving, "Black Friday" and the ensuing culture's living out the current zeitgeist of nihilistic hedonism by purchasing things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people who couldn't give a snot, how do God's people act and react? 

     Do you see that list of gifts and think, "God is superabundantly generous in His grace!" or "meh, whatever"?

     ... or maybe something in-between ...

     The thing is, God does give us what we actually need. We may troll the mall or the internet for what we think we want (and think we need) but, God gives us what we actually need ["Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)] 

     In a sense, God's people 'react' in two ways - in their being and doing. God delivers His justification to His people through His means of grace ... remember that superabundant grace listed above? This is who we are - justified - saints - God's people. (Even if this world, our flesh, and the devil continually tell us that's not what we look like.) In this identity we look to God for our salvation and entrust our daily lives to His loving care. We do this by faithfully using the gifts (the aforementioned list!) by which the Holy Spirit leads us to repent of our sins and to trust Jesus for forgiveness. Resting in that salvation ... abiding in it, we commit our day-to-day living into the caring hands of our heavenly Father. 

     Note that our being, in Christ, comes before our doing. Any 'doing' outside of Christ is futile (cf. Isaiah 64:6). It is in God's generosity that we live generously. In Christ we are liberated from the condemnation and coercion of the Law. And so, according to our new nature in Christ, we are now free to love and obey God's Law. 

     And so our sanctification  is not necessarily the absence of moral blemish (what an impossibility!), but it is being and living by the freedom gained and given to us by Christ to do good works and to assist and help our neighbor - to live generously. 

     Thus, St. Paul can write, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) And, that "You will be enriched in every way ..." as we are encouraged to "be generous in everything." (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:11-13) God is encouraging us to be generous as He is and that it is an opportunity for us to show His generosity so that people can praise Him. 

      As we ride the wave of the anticipation in this season of Advent, may we look into the manger, holding the savior of the world who came in the flesh, through the lens of the shadow of the cross by which He finished His saving work and showed the superabundant generosity of God for His people "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through Him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 1:20)