Tag: instruction

Grace

The majority of my friends and family members are Awesome and help to maintain my Faith in humanity. Then there are those few that stretch me. At times, they really tttrrrrry my pa-tience and offers of grace, or even desire to show grace! Jonathan, my husband, will sometimes say the latter are the ones who are there for our “perfecting,” meaning that they make our faith grow. And I think, ‘Gee, how much more does my faith need to e-x-p-a-n-d?!!’

He’s right though, because if they are irritating me by the things they do and/or say, it shows I have not reached my own maturity in Faith. If and hopefully when I’ve come to a point that their actions, which are intended to provoke, do not irritate, but bring forth a response of love and compassion, then I’m getting closer to the patterned son, who treated sinner and redeemed alike. What greater love did he show than to give up his life to those who mocked and scorned him? 

What love can face a person who figuratively speaking, spits in their face and turn that anger to repentance without one word? What kind of love can heal? What kind of love, when weary will still minister to those in need? What kind of love is not angered when a close friend doubts their existence and allows them to touch him so they believe he exists? It is love full of grace; it is Perfect Love. I’m not there, but Jesus IS. May I grow to be more like him and exhibit His Grace!


Saved by grace… what does that mean?

Grace (charis in the Greek) is a free gift; something given without expecting anything in return; an undeserved kindness; a favor given by God through Christ Jesus. The one who gives grace offers a kindness or a favor; their speech is pleasing and courteous. One who bestows grace is not hindered by another’s sin or triggered by another’s good works. They are motivated by the heart of Christ Jesus, manifested in and through them. Grace is actuated by joy and imparts joy.  Grace prompts its possessors to confer benefits to others. Grace sustains and aids the efforts of those who labor for the cause of Christ, assisting those who are devout followers to be strengthened in their troubles. Grace is the ability to love those who don’t love you, to lend to others and expect nothing in return, to do without being asked. The one who receives and accepts grace feels gratefulness, homage (honor and faithfulness towards the giver) and respect (esteem) to the giver.

Divine grace – ‘Status gratiae’ in Latin – is the spiritual condition of someone who is governed (held in check) by the Spirit. Salvation is a gift of divine grace; it is a heart changing reality. Divine grace is also a Corporate Expression of the gifts given by God. 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

Jesus is the epitome of grace; he knew how to answer every man, even as a child in the temple, his words were gracious. Luke 4:22 He lived out a life of grace to the very end of his human life. Grace and Truth come from Christ alone. Righteousness is declared by grace to us through Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 Grace frees us from sin and the penalty of sin. Romans 6:14 “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.  Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

Grace is to be shared with others. When it is shared and received it brings glory to God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

There is victory in grace, even in the midst of trial because there is joy in the acceptance. Grace given is multiplied. Grace is the sufficiency of God in all that we face in our earthly life. Grace replaces the law. Galatians 5:1-4 Grace produces words seasoned with salt–put into fertile ground – healthy people, salt preserves & purifies. Grace produces wisdom. Malachi 2:7 & Colossians 4:6

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (NKJV) “Let us have grace” means let us continue to hold onto grace.

Grace Is inherited. 1 Peter 3:7 & 4:10 Grace can be multiplied through growth. We are encouraged to grow in grace. 2 Peter 1:2-8 The more grace we understand and walk in – the more we copy the pattern of Christ Jesus – the more grace we will be able to show and share with others.

Prayer: Father help me to grow in your grace and use the gifts you have placed within me to serve others. Help me to continue to hold fast to the grace you have shown me that I might grow in the knowledge of you and be able to share your grace with others. Thank you that your grace is Sufficient! In Jesus’ name – Amen

(Note: Words in blue are hyperlinks to some of the verses I based this study on, click on the words to be able to view them.)

Do the Next Thing…

(God says) “Find out what I’m doing and then do it. Find out what God is up to and move in my faith and do it. Well, I learned that actually this human being is made to contain God, He isn’t something flying about. Christ is In me. He made me wonderful, but to contain a wonderful God. When I know that, life is simply ‘do the next thing.’ What I’m saying is God is operating in me and I’m Native to His operation. I move as a real person with a real God inside me.” — Norman Grubb

Norman Grubb

Norman Grubb was a missionary to Africa and a friend of my mother’s. They corresponded by letter often. My mother was an author who wrote material for Christian media. There were a few occasions that Dr. Grubb (as I called him) would visit our house. He and my mother would have lengthy discussions about the Bible and how God was working in each of their lives. I remember him as a spiritual grandfather to me. He was a positive man with a genuine love for Jesus. I remember his encouragement to me as a young child to grow in the knowledge of God and allow Him to work through me.

Recently, a friend posted a video with Dr. Grubb in it which brought tears to my eyes. They were not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy, remembering a life well lived. It was fun to hear his rapid English accent, a sound that brought a feeling of comfort. There are times you just know when you have been in the presence of someone who truly sought God. I remembered his gentle personality and the love of God he expressed as I watched the video.

I love the prayer Dr. Grubb used daily asking God to direct him. My own day is much more productive and worthwhile when I allow God to guide me from the start of the day. In Dr. Grubb’s prayer, he says that God made us wonderful human beings to contain a wonderful God. When he says contain, he is speaking of embodying the Spirit of Christ. I know that he doesn’t mean that we could ever actually ‘contain’ God in the sense of keeping him in a box. God cannot be contained and His presence is always with us, in us, and around us. He is real, Yes! God is real. We must know the tangibility of God, know that He is forever with us, know that He is in us.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? I Corinthians 6:19 NLT

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:9-11 NLT

Nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 NKJV

Prayer: Father, I thank you for being in me. I thank you that you have chosen me. Help me to understand what I am to do to fulfill your will. Let me speak with your voice, hear with your ears, see with your eyes, and Love with your Love, so that others may see that you are real. Help me to ‘do the next thing.’ Amen 

Love and Potential

(For those who follow my blog, sorry for my absence. I have been dealing with some health issues, but I am being restored! Praise God!)

Along with wisdom and knowledge, King Solomon also had Love & saw Potential!

He asked for wisdom and knowledge, but first he demonstrated love towards the people he was placed over to govern and he saw their potential. He also recognized they belonged to God. Dig deeper into 2 Chronicles 1:10…

“Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

He asks God for wisdom & knowledge to govern the people who belong to God!

God answers him in verses 11 & 12: 

Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

God granted Solomon’s desire because that desire of leading with wisdom and knowledge to govern and judge fairly was in Solomon’s heart (his bosom, his deepest understanding). Solomon already recognized what was required of him. He did not seek riches nor wealth and saw the people belonged to God. This was Also God’s desire to have a leader after His own heart (the heart of God – a heart of fairness, of Divine judgment, of discernment, of Love, of the ability to see potential in everyone). Then to top it off, blessing upon blessing, riches, and wealth, and honor, which were not asked for were added in abundance, more than any other king, before or after. So, when we capture the heart of God and see with His vision the potential of others, and show Love to everyone, blessing upon blessing is stacked upon us. 

Prayer: Father, help me to see everyone with your vision, help me to see the Potential in everyone I come in contact with and help me be able to demonstrate Your Love, not my limited love, but Your Love, all consuming, which has been imparted to me through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ to each individual. May Your Love, Grace, and Mercy shine through me and may I see that everyone belongs to you and that you are calling us all back as your Word says in 2 Cor. 5:20-21. Please give me wisdom and knowledge in every situation of my life. In Jesus’ mighty name, I ask. Amen!