Graced Above Others

Focus: Hebrews 1:9 - KJV

9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Isaiah 61:1-7

Naturally, oil is used to adorn the clean body of a person so as to make the same glow the more. In the same manner, the anointing, which is the shedding of the Spirit of God upon a person, is allowed for a pure person and not a filthy one. As no one robs oil on a man who has not had a bath in a long while, so will the anointing not come upon a person who is unrighteous and full of iniquity. It goes without saying that the extent of purity of the vessel determines the extent of the grace of God that is released upon him. For instance, there are those who are only righteous to the extent of not dipping their direct hands into sin. But, when they see others engaging in sinful acts, it does not so affect them. Their righteousness may afford them some grace. But there are others who, apart from that extent of righteousness, they also detest iniquity not to partake in it or be entertained by it in any manner. Indeed, they are vehement about it. Such are the candidates for greater grace beyond the others.

Paul was the apostle who would rather spend and be spent for God. Necessity was on him to preach the Gospel and woe was he if he did not. He taught everyone to keep his body under so as not to be lured to sin by the flesh. He was such a detester of iniquity to the extent that if any would refuse to abstain from it, he would rather the same be pushed to the devil to be shaken up for a while that he may come to his senses. In the end, handkerchiefs and aprons from his body performed wonders; and at the sound of his voice, a man was made blind for a season. That is special grace. Twelve were they that Jesus commissioned apostles. When Peter’s love for righteousness and detest for iniquity was loud, he was anointed above his fellows. His shadow began to heal the sick, and his words raised the dead.

The Lord is inviting us to emulate our example, Jesus Christ in loving righteousness and hating iniquity just like Peter and Paul did, so that we may also be graced above our pairs. The grace that we are exposed to is however for delivering the oppressed, healing the brokenhearted giving liberty to the captives and in general, showing love to mankind. It is not to be used to add to the burden of others or torment them. That in itself is iniquitous and will not please God. We are to flee from every appearance of evil so that our purity may speak and that the grace that is so special, may come on us. When it does, it transforms us from the ordinary just like Elisha was so extraordinary after crossing back the Jordan. Greater grace than that is even readily available in this dispensation.

SOLUTION: Let righteousness be your watchword and be against iniquity in all its form and manifestation; and the Lord will find you worthy of being graced beyond your pairs.

Please pray:

·      Give thanks to God for giving us the grace to be carriers of His Holy Spirit

·      Tell God today that you plead the righteousness of Christ and that He should please view you with the same extent of righteousness

·      Pray that your level of love for righteousness and hatred for iniquity may not diminish from now on as you maintain Christ’s standard

·      Ask God to please pour His Spirit upon you more than all your pairs and those who lived before you

·      Ask for your daily bread today

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