Pass the Plates
Praise be to God! Grace has been given, and it is apportioned to each one of the believers as Jesus, our Savior, desires it to be.
While raising our family of seven children, we have used two ways of distributing food at our table. More recently, the family passes the plates of food around the table, and each child serves themselves out of the dishes to their liking. This often results in some dishes being consumed in large portions, including protein meats and those of sweeter taste, like casseroles and sauces. At the same time, other foods, like vegetables, are used more sparingly.
However, when the children were younger, their individual plates were passed to either the father or mother. The adult put the food on the plate and returned it to the child. In this latter model, the food was dished out proportionately, and every plate received a somewhat equal share of the food available on the table, or at least an appropriate amount.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, writes about how grace has been given to the believers. In verse 7 of chapter 4 of his letter, he says that "grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." Paul explains that "each one" of the believers has been given grace and, just as importantly, that each one has had that grace distributed by Christ Jesus. Why is this significant? Take the above explanation of the food distribution at the Toal table as an example. If the children are permitted to choose their portion of food, we find that some take more of the dishes than their siblings might get, and other dishes get relatively untouched. However, when the parents are responsible for the dishing out of the food, every child receives a portion appropriate for their nourishment, and all types of food are distributed for their benefit.
When it comes to the grace secured for us as believers, it is right and good that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, apportions grace to us. Here is another good thing. Paul writes that Jesus " who descended to the lower, earthly regions" (vs. 9) also "ascended higher than all the heavens." (vs. 10). Why is this important? Since Jesus Christ, our Lord and the apportioner of the grace He secured on our behalf, ascended higher than all the heavens, He distributes the grace in such a manner that it fills "the whole universe." There is nowhere in all the universe that God's grace through Jesus Christ cannot be found. It covers all things. It is available to all who believe.