An Appeal for Reconciliation
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
(II Corinthians 6:1)
What does it mean to receive not God's grace in vain?
During my early morning workout, the song Just the Two of Us by Grover Washington, Jr. caught my attention. I listened to the lyrics repeatedly to grasp the meaning. I even asked a co-worker to explain her interpretation. Her reply surprised me because she interpreted the lyrics as revealing another relationship other than the man’s wife. Now, she got me thinking!
After a long, thought-provoking session, these words stood out in the lyrics for me: We can make it if we try building them castles in the sky. I suggest the lyric refers to a relationship between God and man instead of a man and woman ( or the other woman). God, the Creator, loves us so much that He wants Just the Two of Us, no one else, just us two, to build castles in the sky. The lyrics continue, we look for love, no time for tears - wasted water's all that is. Think about all the wasted time we spend without God while trying to repair different situations we find ourselves experiencing. If only we could heed the notion that - Just the Two of Us - will suffice despite our situations.
In other words, personal experiences inevitably color our interpretations of life. My spiritual journey allows me to see Just the Two of Us as a metaphor for a divine relationship, whereas my co-worker's perspective brings a different, more earthly interpretation. Yet, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers at Corinth that God's grace is necessary and grace’s presence in their lives is valuable. We can all have different experiences, but ultimately, we must recognize that God's grace is foundational; therefore, we cannot dismiss God’s grace as a vain notion. The Apostle Paul uses these words to avoid devaluing grace.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
(I Corinthians 15:10)
God expects us to value His grace by working in His Kingdom—building castles in the sky instead of creating an earthy reign for ourselves. So, remember, it is - Just the Two of Us - working together in God’s kingdom.