ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 FALAITE SUNE 19, 2026

SAAME 66-69; MATIU 5:13-16

Only God's grace keeps us from reducing our lives to a pursuit of our own comfort, pleasure, and glory.

Ko e kelesi pe ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ne pukepuke kitautolu mei he mo’ui siokita ‘o e kumi pe ‘ete lelei ‘a’ata mo hoto langilangi.

Most of my happiness and joy come from experiencing things that give me pleasure or comfort. I tend to grumble when things get in my way, when I have to wait, or when I feel weakness or pain. I love when people quickly agree with me, and I enjoy being in control. The battle for glory still rages in my heart, confronting me with difficult questions: Will I shrink life to the size of my own glory, or will I live for the expansive and eternal glory of God?

Psalm 67 confronts us with the grand purpose of God's grace:

May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us,

that your way may be known on earth,

your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations i upon earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

The earth has yielded its increase;

God, our God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us;

let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Selah

God pours his grace on us, both for the good of our redemption and so that, through us, his glory would be seen and known throughout the whole earth. The ultimate end of the gift of God's grace is his own glory. God's grace was never intended to stop with us. He desires that all people everywhere would see his glory and give him the praise that is his due: "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth" (67:1-2). Why does God bless us with his grace? So that his way might be known on earth. God's grace drafts us into an army of people who live, work, relate, and speak in order that the plan, purpose, and glory of the Lord  would be known around the entire earth. Embedded in the gift of God's grace is a call to live as his evangelists. His grace doesn't end with our justification and sanctification, because through us he wants his presence and glory to be seen everywhere.

And remember, God gives us all the grace we need to be ready and willing evangelists of the glory of his grace wherever we go.