Another semester is nearing its end, which means approximately 50 more chapels are behind us. There have been several wonderful chapels this fall, but one stands out from the rest, probably because of its clear, practical application.
In stark contrast to Nebuchadnezzar’s pride, Pastor Rutt challenged students to label every accomplishment, every success, and every talent as a gift of grace. This isn’t some false humility which pretends not to recognize achievement or victory. Rather, it is a simple acknowledgement of reality – calling it like it is. Grace.
Our greatest danger, Rutt said, is not our adversity but the contrary. “The greatest danger is your success and a failure to label it ‘gift of grace.’”
Or as Paul put it, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). The answer is nothing. It is all a gift of grace.
Additionally, he reminded us to “spray every success, every expression of credit, every expression of applause” with PAM. In other words, don’t let it stick. That’s why, as he pointed out, one of heaven’s activities is the laying down of crowns that we’ve been given – since it was all a gift of grace, we’ll recognize the crowns don’t really belong to us.
I don’t know about you, but those are two reminders I need today and everyday: label every accomplishment as a gift of grace and spray every bit of applause with PAM.
To listen to this message and others from this semester, click here.
-Abbey Le Roy