Learning to EXTEND Grace

Last week I began a two-part blog post on “GRACE.” We started by discussing my struggle to receive grace in light of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. I highlighted a key verse that was going to help me gain perspective in being a recipient of God’s grace.

That verse was:

“So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:7

In this, I highlighted how when we receive grace, we provide an opportunity for the love of God to be displayed in our broken and imperfect lives. Here’s the deal, though: we are not done when we receive grace—in fact, we are just getting started. Paul closes this beautiful section about faith in Christ and grace with a powerful challenge for us to live out this week: Learning to EXTEND Grace (see text below).

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10

When I read this scripture, I reflect on how Paul helps me see that I am cherished and valued in the eyes of the Father, and that He has a purpose for displaying His grace in my life. God doesn’t just extend grace for us to receive alone; He also extends the opportunity to share grace and help others experience the same power and love of Christ’s resurrection.

One typical story that we can easily apply to this idea of extending grace is the story of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15:11-32. In this story, a father has two sons, and one of them takes his portion of the inheritance before the father has even passed away. This son squanders all that he receives on loose living, leaving him broken and hopeless. He returns to the father to apologize, and the father spots him from a distance, runs to him, and surrounds him with love and grace. For those reading today, this story may best illustrate the idea of learning to extend grace: a father whose son has turned away but is now coming home.

However, there is another story I would like to highlight—one that focuses on the relationship between two brothers, a relationship that is broken, where one brother is given an opportunity to harm the other or to extend grace. This story spans Genesis 25 through Genesis 33.

In this eight-chapter section, we encounter two brothers, Jacob and Esau, who appear to have conflict from an early age. At birth, Jacob is documented as grabbing his brother’s heel—the firstborn of Isaac and Rebekah. During this time, the firstborn was recognized as the son who would inherit the majority of the father’s possessions. Jacob, even at a young age, desired to steal that blessing. In fact, Jacob conspired to obtain the birthright in exchange for a bowl of lentil stew from Esau.

As Isaac approached the end of his life, he called Esau to hunt game and prepare a special meal he loved, planning to give Esau his blessing. Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, knew of this plan and, loving Jacob, helped him deceive his father so that the blessing went to Jacob instead of Esau.

Long story short, Jacob steals his father’s blessing, leaving Esau infuriated and ready to hunt Jacob down. Jacob flees in fear. It isn’t until Genesis 33 that we catch up with the brothers. Jacob, the sneaky, conniving, blessing-stealing brother, is finally facing Esau after many years. What will Esau do?

“1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.”
Genesis 33:1-4

Esau extends grace. He chooses love over confrontation. He embraces his deceptive brother with love instead of attacking him. Within these eight chapters, there is much more to glean from the scriptures, but today, we see a brother who was cheated, yet chose love over confrontation.

When was the last time you were caught in a situation where you expected destruction or punishment, but instead were extended grace? What did you do? Who did you hurt? What was the worst-case scenario you imagined? How did you feel when you realized grace was being extended to you? Were you shocked or surprised?

Last week, we talked about receiving grace. When was the last time you extended it? When someone wronged you or made a big mistake, did you extend grace, or did you hold a grudge? Did you store bitterness? Grace is a beautiful gift—one that can be received and extended. What is easier for you: to receive it or to extend it? How would you have faced Jacob after all the hurt he caused? Would you have embraced him with grace like Esau?

Earlier, I summarized the story of the Prodigal Son—the one whose father embraced him. That son had a brother too, just as Jacob had Esau. However, when the father of the Prodigal Son chose to embrace the lost son, his other son—whose name is not mentioned—did not extend grace. He did not embrace his brother.

Where are you today? Are you like Esau, ready to extend grace wherever needed, or are you like the nameless brother, withholding grace? Remember the grace you have received and the opportunities God gives you to extend it. Will you only be a recipient, or will you also be an extension of His grace?