June 1st, 2017

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding.” – Ephesians 1:7-8
 
As I was walking towards the Garden of Gethsemane I saw a man begging and asking for alms. It has since imprinted in my mind. I have been pondering why? The land where my Savior came should have beggars, people who are still blind to the grace which is available to all.
 
Grace is God’s voluntary and loving favors given to those He saves. We cannot earn salvation nor do we deserve it. Without God’s grace, no one can be saved. Many of us use the word grace without realizing it is greater than we imagine.
 
Grace is not often found in human nature. People do not give something for nothing, people often expect payment for everything they offer.
 
A. W. Tozen says, “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits on the undeserving..”
 
E. Stanley Jones, a missionary, once said, “Grace is free, but when once you take it you are bound forever to the giver.”
 
Max Lucado in his book Grace says, “The meaning of life. The wasted years of life. The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word GRACE.”
 
Do we understand grace? We sing “Amazing Grace”, preachers and teachers explain it. Have we been changed by grace, shaped by grace, emboldened by grace, softened by grace?
 
Look at the thief on the cross next to Jesus Christ. He had done nothing to merit divine grace, on the other hand right up to the very end he was cursing, taunting and mocking Jesus, even though he himself faced certain death and judgement. But you see the grace that was given to this thief was most assuredly a divine gift granted to him freely.
 
When grace happens, we receive a new heart. He returns a favor. “ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26) Grace is everything Jesus. To be saved by grace is not an idea, church membership or doctrine. Grace brings us into His presence. It is incredible, awesome–the words cannot describe.
 
“Grace is God loving, God stooping, God coming to the rescue, God giving himself generously in and through Jesus Christ.” -John Stott.
 
Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.”
 
Author, Stephen Brown, notes that a veterinarian can learn a lot about a dog owner he has never met first by observing the dog. What does the world learn about God by watching us His followers on earth?
 
We better be aware of who we are representing because of grace given to us, so undeserving.
 
Going back to the beggar, I was that man, it was the grace of God, now I am a child of God. I want to close with the Apostle Paul, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
 
Have a blessed summer. Enjoy what God has given us and thank Him for all His blessings.
 
Yours in Christ’s steps,
Pastor Shaker

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