Posted on

Make All Grace Abound

When we say that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, we often haven’t counted our blessings.  We want God to give us further grace when we’re not really using what He’s already given us.

I. Matthew 25:27-29.  We must not abuse it or we will lose it.  Saul justified not totally wiping out Amalek per God’s command by believing he could devote some of the plunder to God.  God, however, called this rebellion and rejected Saul as king (1 Samuel 15:20-23).  Likewise are told to invest the grace that God has given us to bring about glory for Him.

II. John 4:23-24.  We must not misuse it or we will lose it.  The prophet Nathan made David aware of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah and listed all the grace that God had given him, stating that if all that was too little that God would have given him more (2 Samuel 12:7-14).  Likewise we cease to be true worshipers if we stray from either that done in spirit or in truth.

III. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.  If we do not use it, we will lose it.  As Christians Ananias and Sapphira were given much grace, but when they saw others selling properties and giving the money to the church, they lied about that which was at their disposal (Acts 5:1-4).  How are we using that which God has entrusted to us?  His grace abounds in our lives so we may abound in every good work.

We are participants not spectators in our Christian walks and together as the church in our service to God and others.  Count your blessings.  Are you using or losing what God has given you?

Posted on

His Grace Reaches Me

When a parent praises a kid for fridge art, “help” repairing a car, or even a tiny fistful of dandelions, is it because of the kid’s ability or resources to provide a really great gift or service?  No, but to the parent, what the kid has given is precious because it is based in love and in the relationship the parent has with the child.

That is grace.  And each of us needs it from our heavenly Father (Psalm 86).

I.  Romans 8:31-34.  The nature of a servant is that we are poor and needy and must trust God to give us what we need.  We trust in His nature to be good, forgiving, and abounding in steadfast love.  He is the giver of grace as is evident in the title hymn:

Deeper than the ocean and wider than the sea, Is the grace of the Savior for sinners like me; Sent from the Father and it thrills my soul, Just to feel and to know that His blood makes me whole.

II.  Romans 8:35-37.  God is above all and works for the good of His creation that He loves.  This grace should be returned with worship from His creation.  We need God to teach us, walk with us, and provide us, who are more than conquerors through Him, with salvation.

Higher than the mountain and brighter than the sun, It was offered at Calv’ry for ev’ry one; Greatest of treasures and it’s mine today, Tho’ my sins were as scarlet, He has washed them away.

III.  Romans 8:38-39.  Others may seek to harm us, so we need God’s protection.  Because of His character, He helps us in His grace so that we are never separated from Him.  We display the grace He gives us by bringing Him glory in lives lived for Him.

His grace reaches me, yes, His grace reaches me, And ’twill last thru eternity; Now I’m under His control and I’m happy in my soul, Just to know that His grace reaches me.

All that we can offer our heavenly Father is like a badly scribbled crayon-drawing, the turning of a plastic screwdriver, or dandelions picked from the ditch.  Yet, He accepts them gladly out of love and gives us more grace.

 

Posted on

Thank You, Lord!

While the ant scurries away, unworthy of the crumb it carries, I am aware of how I could bless (or overwhelm) its life with the entire cake I hold.  Such is God’s grace to us.  So, how should we respond?  Probably like Paul did for the grace God showed the Christians in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:4-9).

I.  2 Corinthians 8:3-7.  A busy seaport city, Corinth was filled with immorality and idolatry, and despite the problems that Paul would address in his letters to them, he begins by giving thanks to God for the grace that He has shown them.  He later urges them to show grace in giving like the churches in northern Greece have shown, letting them know that God has so much more from His abundance that He can give them (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).  We, as they, might sing:

Thank You, Lord, for loving me And thank You, Lord, for blessing me.  Thank You, Lord, for making me whole And saving my soul.

Let us all with one accord Sing praises to Christ the Lord.  Let us all unite in song To praise Him all day long.

Please reveal Your will for me So I can serve You for eternity.  Use my life in every way, Take hold of it today.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me.  Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul.

II.  2 Peter 1:3-4.  Paul was thankful to God that He continued to give to the Corinthians and would sustain them until the end.  Since God has already given us His Son, all else is small in comparison (Romans 8:32).  He gives all we need for life and godliness through His great and precious promises so we might participate in the divine nature with Him and escape this corrupt world.  Our response should be a song of thankfulness from our hearts:

For all that You’ve done, I will thank You.  For all that You’re going to do.  For all that You’ve promised, and all that You are Is all that has carried me through, Jesus, I thank You! 

And I thank You, thank You, Lord.  And I thank You, thank You, Lord. 

Thank You for loving and setting me free, (how I) Thank You for giving Your life just for me.  How I thank You, Jesus, I thank You, gratefully thank You.  Thank You.

III.  Romans 7:21-25.  Paul was also thankful that Jesus was able to present them guiltless (Jude 24) because God is faithful.  And so, we can also trust in Jesus’ work in the gospel for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Access to the Tree of Life that was denied mankind to live forever (Genesis 3:22) is now opened to those who obey the gospel (Revelation 22:14).  Lamenting his struggle of the spiritual war waged within himself that we all share, Paul gave thanks to Jesus for his salvation:

How do you explain,
How do you describe,
A love that goes from east to west,
And runs and deep as it is wide?
You know all our hopes
Lord, you know all our fears
And words cannot express the love we feel
But we long for You to hear
So listen to our hearts (oh, Lord, please listen)
Hear our spirits sing (and hear us sing)
A song of praise that flows (a simple song of praise)
From those You have redeemed (from those You have redeemed)
We will use the words we know
To tell You what an awesome God You are
But words are not enough
To tell You of our love
So listen to our hearts
If words could fall like rain
From these lips of mine
And if I had a thousand years
I would still run out of time
So if You listen to my heart
Every beat would say,
“Thank You for the Life, thank You for the Truth,
Thank You for the Way.”

Is thankfulness the song of your heart?  Do you reflect on all the ways that Jesus helps you and what He has given you?  May you overflow with thanks to God for His grace that He’s already given You and love He’ll continue to shower you with.

Posted on

Made in your image

Father, you made us in your image.
And when we defaced it, you sent your Son, in the fullness of time, to restore it.
You love us and sacrificed for our good.
You sent your Spirit to help us and gave us your Word.
We accept, O Lord, your grace.
Keep us from denying your love.
Keep us from believing the lie that we are worthless.
We rejoice in your kindness and patience.
We confess our need and therefore we seek your Kingdom.
In Jesus’ name we pray and praise you. Amen.

Posted on

Give Me Grace

Give me grace, O Lord,
to bear the burden of the day.
Give me peace, O King,
to pass to sufferers in the way.
Give me light, O God,
to see the path that I must tread.
Give me life, O Father,
from him who’s risen from the dead.

Give me love, O Sovereign,
such as on earth I’ve never known.
Give me hope, O Lamb,
of righteous fruit that I have sown.
Give me faith, O Faithful,
that wavers not when I am tried.
Give me word, O Lord,
that you with me will ever abide.

Posted on

The Evil Slippery Slope

The gospel brings salvation for mankind,
The only power to save the maimed and blind;
O Lord, keep me from ever feeling shame,
But always offer to all the blessed Name.

For saving grace obedient faith’s required;
By Christ confessed is righteousness acquired.
In him, O God, resides my glorious hope —
Preserve me from the evil slippery slope.

Posted on

An Easy Word to Say

Grace is such an easy word to say,
And with it, love and peace and joy and faith.
Such grand expressions! Cosmic truths that sway
The open mind! In them I’d daily bathe.

Lead me in the practice of the truth,
Your tender mercy ever my guiding light,
The blessed News of Christ my narrow path,
Where words have meaning, and faith becomes our sight.

Posted on

Lord, spring forth!

O God who covers the desert with a field of flowers —
Make this barren life bloom in variegated grace,
Bring bubbling water to run in dry channels of the heart,
Cause laughter to be heard in the midst of a mourning world,
Righteousness a flood, and justice the rain to refresh the earth.
Lord of all, spring forth in marveled wonders among your people!

Posted on

Our Desire

To you belong the power and praise,
O Ancient of Days!
No season, age, or dawn confines
Your eternal times!

Your grace is high — let no one miss
That heavenly bliss!
Our blackened root of bitterness
We soon confess!

To know your love is our desire,
Our zealous fire!
Our souls renew, our bodies raise
To joyfully praise
Your righteous ways.

Posted on

No Matter How High or Low

O Lord, no matter how high or low
this roller-coaster life may go,
remind me you are solid ground,
immune to quake or flood or wind.

I know, O God, to find in you
the source of all that’s good and true;
Though in the fray, I moan and sweat,
Let me not your grace forget.