Understand this: Grace is the power to excel, or license to just get by. Either way, you’re accepted and considered righteous in God’s eyes the moment you trust in Christ. Why would God arrange it that way? Because the love He gives us is unconditional, and only a response of love can satisfy Him. What an amazing truth; God makes Himself vulnerable to the rejection of people like us! Perhaps you’re wondering, “How can I prove that I truly love God?” That’s easy: you’ll love your brother and sister (See 1Jn 4:21). You’ll love God’s Word (See Ps 119:97). You’ll love spending time in prayer (See Jer 29:12). Grace, rightly understood, doesn’t prevent holiness, it produces it. “The grace of God that brings salvation…teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Tit 2:11-12 NIV). I read this the other day in the Word for Today devotional and thought you would enjoy it as well.
It invoked the following thought in me... I of all people was not and am not deserving of God's amazing grace. However, I am encouraged that He loves me and is committed to doing a work in and through me. I am reminded of the words of Paul found in 1 Tim. 1:12-17… I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [1]
Those of us that have received this grace have a obligation to the One who extended it toward us. God has called each of us to do a specific task and we have the awesome privilege and responsibility to do as Paul instructed the Colossians in, Colossians 4:2-6… Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. [2]
So let us make the most of our opportunities this week and allow God’s grace to inspire us to excel and all put our best foot forward and let God’s grace shine through us as we make known the mystery of the gospel.
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