Echo Charis

 A YouTube Devotional for 16 March 2021.

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A verse I mentioned on Sunday was Romans 12:28, which in the New Living Translation says: “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” The same verse in the New King James Version says: “Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

The wording of the second translation has really struck me, particularly the idea that we need grace in order to serve God acceptably.

In Greek, the phrase translated as “grace” or “thankful” (or in other versions “gratitude”) is echo charis.

Echo means either to have, hold or keep something, or to be something. And that something that we are to have, hold, keep or be is charis.

Charis means “grace, the state of kindness and favour toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object. By extension it also means a gift or benefit, credit, words of kindness and benefit, thanks, and blessing.”

This is what we are to have, hold, keep or be in order to serve God acceptably.

To have, hold, keep or be grace. To have, hold, keep or be kindness and favour towards others, and towards God. To have, hold, keep or be focussed on the benefit given to others, and to God, rather than on the benefit given to us.

This is not an easy undertaking, but nor is it one we have to perform in our own strength. It is Christ, and His love for us, that enables us to reflect that love to others. When our hearts are filled with Christ, who has already demonstrated echo charis to us, then we will respond in echo charis to others. In doing so, we will be pleasing to God, and will serve Him acceptably with reverence, worship, and holy godly fear.

Today, bring your heart once more before the throne of God. Remind yourself of what he has done for you and ask him to fill you once again. Turn your gaze to Him and learn to be more like Him. So that you can have, hold, keep and be exactly what He calls you to.

Blessings.