Having a Reserve of Grace...

Vulken7 told me to do this, and I do whatever Vulken7 says.... Not really, but it was a good idea, Vulken7, so I did it. :) Here's some thoughts based on something I read earlier.

[God] desires us to have a rich deposit of grace... Being spiritually wealthy means to have a reserve of grace before God and not to rely on special grace. Poverty is banished by the surplus of grace within.

God is not treating us wrongly when He gives us more trials and difficulties; He is actually treating us very well. He has selected us and has granted us favor by providing us this big opportunity.... The amount of our spiritual wealth is based on the amount of experiences we have passed through.... our hope is not only that we would spend sufficient time before the Lord and pass through enough experiences, but also that we would become vessels unto glory after we pass through these experiences.

I was impressed that our life is about coming to know the Lord in a deeper way and having a wealth of His grace or experience within our vessel. It's not so much about our physical situation: where we live, how we feel, or whatever. As Christians, we should be persons building up a surplus of grace. It struck me that the Lord has me where I am because He loves me, and He wants me to know Him in a particular way. That's really a blessing.

Quotes from "Special & Reserve Grace" by Watchman Nee, a booklet excepted from The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Volume 5, Chapter 5.