What We Need Is Grace

There is a lot going on right now in this world.  Most of it is surrounding being easily offended and being “intolerant”.  What is going on?  You can’t voice your opinion without making people mad, friends unfriending each other on Facebook, or relationships being damaged.  What has happened?  We have disregarded grace along with the One that provides it.

First, we have to receive grace to fully be able to give it.  How do we do this?  Ephesians 2:4-5 and 8-10 reads:

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ, (by whose grace you are saved;)
⁸For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, that any man should boast.  ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.

Here we can see that we receive grace from God when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  What is faith?  Faith is to have confidence in the testimony of another.  Therefore, to have faith in Jesus Christ, you must have confidence that He is who He said He is – God in the flesh, Redeemer, Son of God, propitiation for our sins, and too many more to list.  If you have faith in Christ then you receive God’s grace.

What is grace?  Grace is unmerited favor.  Let’s take a look at that equation then:

Confidence in the testimony of Jesus Christ = Unmerited favor with God

Pretty simple.

Let’s take this a step further then.  This is the amazing part!  God doesn’t just grant us His grace so we can have eternal life.  He gives us this grace (and love) so we can give it to others.  He expects us to do this and provides us with an unending supply.  Take a look at 2 Corinthians 9:8:

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Also look at Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

We can see in both of these passages that God grants us grace so we can abound in it and minister it to those around us.

When we lack in grace, it is because we’re not plugged into The Source, and then we become focused on tolerance.  The definition of tolerance is to accept or endure (someone or something unpleasant or disliked) with forbearance.  Wait!  What?  Tolerance doesn’t change my opinion or view of you or your actions.  I simply keep my mouth shut.  I don’t want that from people, and I don’t want to behave that way toward others.  I want to give and receive grace.

To really see the difference, let’s dig into the definition of grace – unmerited favor.  Unmerited means we don’t deserve it.  I know I have those days that I’m not on my best behavior or I may have views we can’t agree on or I may have some sin in my life that bothers you.  That all makes it unmerited.  What is favor?  Favor is overgenerous, preferential treatment.  Now read the definition of tolerance again.  Which do you prefer?

Now don’t get me wrong that offering grace does not mean that people get a free pass to live with sin in their lives.  A piece, if you will, of that grace is loving someone enough to hold them accountable for their actions.  To see what God sees in them, and challenge them in love to be that person.  That may include calling sin out in their life.  That does not mean you are not offering grace, but rather you want God’s very best for their life. 

Over the past couple years, I’ve had the privilege of having a boss and a friend that has filled this role in my life.  While some conversations are hard to process, I am so thankful for them.  They have seen something in me that I had never saw and challenged me to reach higher, have more faith, trust more, and be bolder.  I am so thankful they didn’t just tolerate me where I was.  I am so much better for it.

Next time someone calls something out in your life, don’t cry for tolerance.  Prayerfully search your heart with God’s guidance to see if they’re not actually offering grace and love through accountability.  It could change your life...and your eternity.

When's Your Expiration Date?

With my job, there is a report I review monthly for the hospitals in our system that shows patients who have readmitted.  Part of that report shows where they went when they left the hospital - home, nursing home, etc.  One of the options, so to speak, is listed as "expired."  At first this bothered me; it felt very impersonal.  I thought, "We're people, not gallons of milk."  However, a couple weeks ago when I was working with the report again, this verse came to mind:

And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

 That got me digging and then I found this verse too:

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth?  Job 7:1

It made me realize we DO have expiration dates.  God has our days numbered and knows exactly how many days we have on earth.  We don't know our expiration date, and that is why it is so important to heed the Holy Spirit's calling when we hear it.  He is calling to each of us to accept Christ.  Are we listening?  Are we heeding His call?

That verse in Hebrews describes what will happen to us.  We will reach our expiration date and then we will stand before judgment.  Not for our works or our own righteousness, for they are but filthy rags before the Lord. (Isaiah 64:6)  God will look for the blood of Christ to be applied to our life, and that's it.  That will determine where we spend eternity - with Him in Heaven or without Him in Hell.

As we wind up this holiday season with Christmas quickly approaching.  Think about that baby in the manger and what He really came for so many years ago.

Joy

This is the third week of Advent - Joy.  While looking for a graphic to post on our church Facebook page, I came across the one above.  It hit me because yesterday I was speaking with a colleague who also traveled the journey of infertility.  We talked about how difficult it was, but continuing in faith and finding something in the midst of it.  We couldn't really describe it.  She used the word "contentment", but I think we both knew it was more than being content.  Then this morning, I saw this and knew what it was we were trying to describe - it is joy.  Joy does not equate to happiness; oh, quite the contrary.  We both spoke of the indescribable sorrow we have felt, but in the midst of the deepest sorrow, you can still find joy.  Joy then does provide contentment and peace in the situation because joy does not come from ourselves.  It only comes from the One in whom we have faith - Jesus Christ.

So during this Advent season, ponder on what you can find joy in during difficult times. Ponder while you're waiting for an answer on the One who has the Master plan for your life.  Think on the Child in whom's arrival we're preparing to celebrate, and why He was sent here.  

Planted

Bro. Larry Hufhand preached at our church this past Sunday.  He has been doing a series for us about Psalm 1.  This Sunday he focused on verse 3, and a word jumped out at me.  It was the word "planted".  Let's see what verse 3 says:

He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

This word struck a cord with me because according to the Dictionary, planted is a verb that means "To place or set (seeds, for example) in the ground to grow."  That is a very intentional act.  If you are the "blessed man" that is being talked about in this first chapter of Psalms, and you can deduct if you think you fall into this category by reading the first two verses, you have been intentionally placed in the spot you are in right now by God to serve a specific purpose.  This should be very encouraging!  Sometimes we go through trials that are not of our own doing, but we can always know that there is absolutely a specific purpose behind it!  That is pretty awesome to know!

Now, what sometimes happens is we don't like where God plants us, so we uproot ourselves and move to where we think we should be.  Been there, done that, and hope to not do it again because it never works out.  We need to bloom where we've been planted!

So as we go through our week this week, let's take a look in the mirror to see if we are living a life God can bless.  If we are, then praise God for where He has planted you.

Wait Upon the Lord

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Came across a devotion about this verse the other day, and it mentioned something that I was never aware of but became a golden nugget.  The Hebrew word used means change, not renewed!  That was an amazing revelation to me.  Those that wait on the Lord actually have their strength changed.  It changes to become that of the Lord’s strength, not their own.  It is transformed!  How amazing is that?

This was so encouraging to me because there are quite a few things in my life that are in “wait mode”.  One prayer is waiting for hearts to be changed and softened.  A few others I don’t understand why, but trusting God has a plan.

If you are in wait mode right now, find great news in this verse.  God not only has a plan, but if you wait on Him, He will reward you with His strength.  Then whatever we’re waiting on is sure to bring Him all the glory!  So wait.

What a Friend

The past few months have definitely been a testing time.  It is a tough pill to swallow when you’ve had people in your life for several years, and you realize that the relationship you thought was there was not.  It is not reciprocal to the level of care or love you have for them.  I realize I’m not the only one this has happened to.  Everyone has had relationships that have ended up broken, and it stinks.  It hurts, and you have a tendency to want to be not very nice about it.  Well, as my mom always told us growing up, “two wrongs don’t make a right”.  We need to move on and be better.  What I cling to, though, is a very dear Friend that will never leave me or forsake me.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who trust you”.  Isn’t that great news?  If we trust Him, he will never forsake us!  That is so comforting.  Also look in John 15 where Jesus refers to the apostles as his friends.  We have that same ability today – to be Christ’s friend.  If we keep his commandments and read his Word, we are His friend.  What a better friend could one have?

So as you go through the week this week, know that if you trust Him, He will always be with you.  If you haven’t trusted Him as Lord and Savior, why not start today?  It is very simple.  Pray to God admitting you are a sinner and asking forgiveness of your sins.  Then tell Christ you trust Him to be Lord of your life.  That’s all it takes.  After that, find a home church to support you and guide you in your new Christian walk, and take time every day to pray and read your Bible.  After all, you have a new Friend!  You need to really get to know Him!

Have a blessed week!

Trials

Was reading in first Peter today and a little gold nugget popped out at me.  Take a look at this:

Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.1 Peter 1:6-7

Praise God for our trialed or tried faith!  Look at this passage grammatically, especially verse 7.  Our tried faith is much more precious that gold…not just any faith – tried faith.  Faith that has been through the fire and has come through it still bringing praise, honor, and glory to Jesus.  That is the faith that is highly valuable to God, so the next time you go through the valley or a deep trail, just know to stand strong and keep your faith.  When you come through the other side, your faith will be stronger and highly valued by God.

Have a glorious Friday!