Tag: grace
Day 4–Peace and Love With Faith
Scripture reading for June 18: Ephesians 6:23-24“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”
Today’s short blessing from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is full of encouragement that reinforces the other blessings we already covered. The Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:23-27 declared God’s smile of favor over His people giving them His peace. Jesus declared the blessedness of peacemakers being called the sons of God, reinforcing our identity as belonging to God’s eternal family. (Matthew 5:9) The blessing in Hebrews declared our Father as the God of peace Who made peace for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This act demonstrates true love to us and enables us to have faith, which works by love. (Galatians 5:6) Paul declared peace to the brothers (and sisters) in this blessing for today.
Paul also declared love with faith to the believers from God the Father and the Lord Jesus. God’s love always acts for the highest good of the other, regardless of cost. God our Father in love gave us who believe the gift of the Holy Spirit Who confirms to us our identity as God’s children. God is love and true love is from God. His children should reflect His love. Jesus taught Holy Spirit becomes in us a river of God’s love flowing out of us. (John 7:38-39) (Romans 5:5) Because we know His amazing love, we can now respond by loving Him and loving our brothers and sisters. (1 John 4:10-12) This means working for their highest good, regardless of cost to us.
But love on our part can be corrupted. We can say we love God and yet hold hatred for our brothers or sisters. We can declare we love our brothers and sisters, yet close our heart to helping them in need. (1 John 3:17) When our love is corrupted, God’s grace to us is restricted by our own heart attitude. His flow of love through us is also restricted for those we are sent to help.
Prayer: Father God continue to reveal to me, a first responder, Your great love in Jesus Christ. Reveal any heart attitudes that corrupt my love for You or hinder Your love flowing through me to others. I receive this blessing of peace and love with faith from You and our Lord Jesus Christ and want to pass it on. Amen.
Day 5–Grace not Worry!
Scripture reading for May 1: 1 Peter 5:5-7 “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Living by faith is the key to a content and peaceful soul. Many in our world, even among responders, are filled with anxiety. We all face the pressures of life in this world and troubles that come upon the just and the unjust. “Time and chance happen to all” says Solomon. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) It’s how we respond to these troubles that is a key to our soul health. Jesus, our Example, was totally obedient to His Father and sought Him for every word to speak and every action to do. Everything was done to bring glory to God and fulfil His purpose of saving lost sinners and bringing them into a loving relationship.
Peter instructed believers to clothe themselves with humility towards one another. Jesus was completely humble and gentle, calling all to come and learn His way. (Matthew 11:28-30) Peter reminds us that God gives grace to the humble but He opposes the proud. Having God opposing you is not a place to choose for a healthy soul. We note that God invites us to cast all cares and burdens on Him and He will sustain us. He guarantees that He will exalt us at the proper time and help us stand firm. He truly cares for us!
This is good news for first responders who deal with other’s problems but still have our own personal concerns. When we cast our cares on God, we can let go of them completely. It’s like a shotput athlete throwing a 16 pound shot. If we cast it and hold onto it it will put our body and soul at risk. We must choose to let go and trust God to sustain us in peace and expectancy.
Prayer: Father God, I sometimes hold onto my cares and allow them to weigh me down as with a heavy load. Forgive me and teach me to cast those cares on You and live by faith in these amazing promises of Your unending care and unbreakable promises. Amen.
Prayer is Working!
Scripture reading for November 6: James 5
“Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” James 5:13-18
James concluded his letter to the suffering church with encouragement to pray. Tradition says that James, Jesus’ half-brother, was a man of prayer. His knick-name was ‘camel-knees’ because of callouses on his knees from much time in prayer. His advice to the suffering: Pray! James encouragement to those who were cheerful: Sing praise! His encouragement to the sick: Call the elders to pray! We honor Him when we ask in faith for needs and healing. (Psalm 50:15) We honor Him when we sing praises in worship and adoration for His work. (Psalm 103:1-3)
But prayer and praises must come from a heart anchored in faith in God and His Word. All prayer for healing is based on God’s demonstrated will through Jesus Christ and His Word. “The Lord will raise him up” is our hope and trust. We who pray must also be righteous, but our righteousness is not based on us doing everything right, but in Jesus Christ Who Alone was perfect. His righteousness becomes ours by faith and gives us ability to pray in faith with great power. Because of this, we are told to confess our sins one to another that we might be healed and walk in the power of fervent prayer. Elijah was cited as an example of fervent prayer and the Lord giving results. Let’s release our faith through fervent prayer and praise! He will bring resurrection life!
Do you find it hard to spend time in regular prayer? Is there one thing you need that you have not prayed about or asked the elders to pray with you for? Will you pray a prayer of faith today or ask for help? Can you offer praise and thanksgiving for God’s answer now?
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for often worrying or whining instead of praying to You in faith. I have also been reluctant to ask other believers to pray. Forgive my pride and self-sufficiency. Give me grace to ask You for the help I need and to ask other mature believers to pray over me. Amen.
The unsearchable riches of Christ
Scripture reading for August 27: Ephesians 3
“Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God Who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:7-12
To the majority of mankind, the knowledge of Christ is something that can be taken or left. Religion has been relegated to that which is optional and not essential. Man has been empowered to make his own choices about what is valuable or not necessary. Adam and Eve brought death on all mankind through their choice to disobey God and reject His wisdom and riches. The riches of Christ were hidden from man through sin and the resulting darkness.
But God’s amazing plan to bring salvation to the ends of the earth would succeed. Paul shared that God had made him a minister of the Gospel and empowered Him to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ as a light to the Gentiles and a revelation of the hidden mystery of those riches. God’s eternal purpose and plan was to reveal the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. Commentators offer two possible interpretations of this purpose. These ruler and authorities are possibly the angels who serve God and mankind as the heirs of salvation. They observe the power of the Gospel in action through believers. An alternative explanation is that these are the fallen angels who are defeated at the cross and daily by the Gospel preached by Spirit-filled and redeemed mankind. It could be that both are true!
Have you ever taken time to search out these ‘unsearchable riches’ of Christ Jesus? God’s wisdom is ‘manifold’, or many-sided. Have you considered God’s purpose of revealing Christ’s manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm?
Prayer: Father God, Your wisdom is beyond my understanding and yet amazing. Thank You for sending believers to me to share the unsearchable riches of Christ and call me to repentance and faith. I offer myself to You to be given grace to share the message of the Gospel to the lost of this world. May the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm marvel at Your wisdom. Amen.
Faith and Identification with Christ
Scripture reading for August 18: Galatians 2
“For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness was through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:19-21
Paul explained to the Galatian believers how no one could be made righteous or be justified before God through the keeping of the law. The law involved personal effort and our work to keep it. However, through human effort to keep the law, no flesh can or will be justified. (Galatians 2:16) The law of God brought to light our sin nature but could not fix it. Paul explained it as dying to the law through trying to keep it. Human effort or good works will always fall short.
But now, through faith in Jesus Christ, Who Alone perfectly kept God’s law, we can now live for God and be justified. Paul described his death to the law as ‘being crucified with Christ.’ The old “Saul” who sought to kill Christ’s followers was now dead. But “Saul” now lived as Paul, made alive in Christ as a gift of His grace. Paul stated that if he could have earned righteousness through keeping the law, Christ’s death would have been in vain–of no value. But the true world view Paul now held was of eternal life through Christ living in him. By grace through faith in the one true Gospel, he had been justified before God and made righteous. Any attempt to add human works nullifies God’s Gift of grace!
Have you ever tried to keep God’s law or a set of rules to earn your acceptance with God? Have you identified with Jesus Christ so that you can personally make Paul’s confession of faith in Galatians 2:20? What does it mean to ‘nullify the grace of God?’
Prayer: Father God, I believe that I was crucified with Jesus Christ, Your Son. I believe that I was resurrected with Jesus as He arose from the grave. The life I now live is by faith in Jesus Christ Alone and His Gift of righteousness. Keep me safe from ever nullifying Your amazing grace! Amen.
The One true Gospel!
Scripture reading for August 15: Galatians 1
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him Who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-10
Paul was called to plant churches among the Gentiles and on his first missionary journey had planted the church in Galatia. Paul was now writing to the believers there to correct their world view and refocus them on the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he had originally preached to them and by which they had been saved. False teachers were adding to the true Gospel message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. These false teachers were perverting the true Gospel message with the addition of the Jewish laws and traditions. These teachings had found some acceptance and some were leaving the church to follow the lies from these false teachers.
Paul stated plainly that there was only one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. That Gospel message called sinners to repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Son of God, through His body and blood. As people repented and believed, God by grace declared them righteous and gifted them His Holy Spirit. Anyone preaching a different ‘gospel’ was actually under a curse. Paul could have tried to please men and overlooked the false teaching or said it didn’t matter. But Paul was not called to appease men but to please God through obedient faith. He was a true servant of Christ and not a false teacher! He had received His Gospel from Jesus Christ Himself. It wasn’t from man or man’s idea.
In our culture of many churches, voices, and philosophies of religion, how do you know which is the one true ‘Gospel’? Have you ever followed a church or church leader who actually led you astray away from the true Gospel? Are you confident today that you have believed the true Gospel and are truly saved?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending me true Christ-followers who faithfully represented the true Gospel of salvation by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, Your Son. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and a hunger for Truth so that I might walk in holy discernment and preach the true Gospel to all! Amen.
Righteousness by faith
Scripture reading for June 25: Romans 9
“What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 9:30-33
Righteousness simply means to have right standing before God. The Gentiles have God’s law through nature and conscience. They know that they are eternal beings because God has put eternity in man’s heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The Jews had God’s law through Moses and did not keep it. Because they had a sin nature from Adam, they fell under condemnation for breaking God’s law. Because all men and women, from Adam and Eve until today have sinned before God, no one can have righteousness through perfect obedience of God’ law as Jews or following conscience as Gentiles. Truly, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory and perfection. We cannot stand on our own in the final judgment.
God provided sacrifices that would temporarily cover man’s sin and give them relief from condemnation by faith in God’s mercy through their obedience. The only way of obtaining righteousness for sinful man is to come to God by faith and ask for forgiveness and mercy. The Jews failed to pursue righteousness by faith and instead tried to work to keep God’s law. Their own sin natures brought failure and condemnation. But God provided the final and only Sacrifice for sins and sinners in His Son, Jesus Christ. He was born a Jew and was placed by God among the Jews. Many Jews refused to come to Him by faith and will be put to shame. But for all who receive Him, their condemnation is removed and adoption results!
Have you ever tried to be good enough to be accepted by God through religious practice or good works? Have you stumbled over the Gospel of Grace through faith in Jesus Christ or have you found adoption and forgiveness through Him? Do you have confidence for righteousness now and at the judgment?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for removing my condemnation and giving me Christ’s righteousness by faith. I have confidence through faith in Your promise of eternal life through trusting in Jesus Christ. Use me to testify to Your amazing Gift of right standing before You now and at the final judgment. Amen.
Set free!
Scripture reading for June 20: Romans 6
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and , having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:15-18
Paul was ministering and teaching in the Roman culture where human slavery was part. Paul used the example of slavery to teach about the transformation of our souls from slavery to sin in our fallen state to slavery to righteousness when we repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Paul reasoned that we are slaves to the one we obey. If we are under ‘sin’ as our master, we choose to obey our appetites and partake of whatever they demand. The ‘wages’ of sin is death and eternal separation from God and His mercy. But if we repent of this slavery to sin, and choose to cast ourselves on the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, we are given grace and forgiveness of those sins. The reward of repentance and obedience to Jesus is eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
Some were saying, that since grace was freely available, those who obtained grace should be free to go on sinning so that God could offer more grace. (Romans 6:1-2) “By no means” was Paul’s reply to these who were justifying their disobedience because of grace. When we have been set free from sin, we ‘die’ to our old slave nature and we now choose to become “slaves of righteousness” and live by the power of the Spirit in obedience to God’s Word. Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed to live in righteousness!
Have you ever realized that you were in slavery to sin in some aspect of your life? What form did this slavery take? Have you been set free from the slavery to sin? How did this freedom affect your daily life and world view?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Good News of Jesus Christ and the freedom from slavery to sin found in Him. I joyfully choose to give myself fully to love and serve Jesus and obey His Spirit leading me to obedience of God’s Word. I pray daily to be used to share this message of freedom with others. Amen.
Access to Grace by faith
Scripture reading for June 19: Romans 5
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5
Faith works by love. God’s love poured into those who believe through the Holy Spirit provides a powerful rejoicing of faith. This faith knows and trusts that God is able to do what He has promised. This faith sees the ultimate goal of our soul enjoying God’s glory in eternal life. Faith enables believers to rejoice in sufferings for the cause of Christ. As we rejoice in sufferings, we gain endurance and this produces a strong character of righteousness and hope. Hope is the constant expectation of good coming from God’s hand to those who walk by faith, even in their suffering. We have peace with God!
This is the new world view of those who repent of trusting in man and self and begin to trust in God and His promises. Our vision expands our world from physical reality to see the King of Heaven and His glorious kingdom that has already broken into our world in Jesus Christ. Our vision gives us hope of a glorious future kingdom and the defeat of all our enemies and relief from the suffering. Our faith enlarges our heart’s capacity to love others and share the Good News of the King and His kingdom here and now available to all who will believe.
Are you currently standing in God’s amazing grace? What are some changes in your life since you have entered God’s kingdom by faith? Have you shared the gift of eternal life and peace with God with your own friends and relatives?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving me peace with You and pouring Your love into my heart by the Holy Spirit. I want my family and friends to know this peace and rejoice in the hope of eternal life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit today that I might love each person You place in my path with Christ’s love. Amen.
Everything we need for godliness
Scripture reading for December 18: 2nd Peter 1-3
Does the sin and degradation of this world ever get to you? Do you become so tired of the constant bombardment of sex, lies, materialism, war, pollution, and lusts that you long for an escape? Peter offers some advice to those who have the righteousness of Christ by faith. We are to live in grace and peace in abundance through our knowledge of God and Christ Jesus, our Lord! (2nd Peter 1:1-2)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2nd Peter 1:3-4)
What do we know about Jesus Christ and God our Father that helps us to escape this corruption? We know Jesus was good! He went about doing good and healed all those oppressed by the devil, because God the Father was with Him. (Acts 10:38) We know that Jesus promises to be with us always! (Matthew 28:20) We know that God the Father spoke from heaven and confirmed Jesus as His Son. (Matthew 17:2-5) We also know that Jesus is coming back the same way He left–in a cloud of glory! (Acts 1:9-11) Peter was there and an eyewitness to Christ’s glory when He was transfigured and when He ascended! (2nd Peter 1:18)
We have Peter’s eyewitness account, but God’s Word is even more certain according to Peter. (2nd Peter 1:19-21) It came not from man, but holy men spoke from God under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit! God’s Word is Spirit and Life–impregnated with the life of God and enables us to be born again. (1st Peter 2:23) The earth and heavens will pass away with a roar and intense heat, but God’s Word will never pass away! (Matthew 24:35) (2nd Peter 3:10)
We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth where righteousness will be complete! Peter concludes his second letter with encouragement. “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation…” But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2nd Peter 3:14-15, 18)