You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘grace’ tag.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
God is pro-choice. Not in the way some people would like to think. His definition of pro-choice goes far beyond the abortion controversy. God’s version of pro-choice has to do with everything we encounter in life. Moses says, “This day…” and it’s a reminder that every day, when we first open our eyes we choose. We choose between life and death, between blessing and cursing.
We have no choice but to choose! To choose between blessing and cursing means that our daily life will either be a blessing to those we come in contact with or a curse. It’s our choice. Paul adds to that when he says in Romans, “So much as is possible live at peace with all people.” Like Moses he’s telling us that every day we must choose to live peacefully with others to the best of our God-given ability.
When we are abused we have the choice to bless through forgiveness or to curse through hatred.
When we are disappointed in God or others we have the choice to bless through contentment or to curse through growing bitter.
When we suffer injustice we have the choice to bless by accepting the decision or to curse through growing bitter.
When we go through broken relationships we have the choice to bless by taking responsibility for our part and moving on or curse by living in shame and regret.
When we others let us down we have the choice to bless by trusting or the curse of accusing them before all the facts are out.
When we choose to bless, it doesn’t mean we agree with the other person. When we choose to bless it certainly doesn’t mean we condone what they have done to us. When we choose to bless we release our own bondage to the person so that the free life of Christ can live through us. Blessing always brings life. Cursing always brings death. Blessing enables us to live in freedom; cursing forces us into bondage. Blessing means I realize who I am as a Christ-follower; Cursing means I’ve forgotten what it means to be a child of God.
Humanly speaking, we don’t have the strength to take the actions to bless on a daily basis. We need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for that. But we do have the power to choose! When we choose to bless we choose life not only for ourselves but for others and life is freeing! All of heaven is watching you today, to see which you choose!
PRAYER: Father God. I ask that today I would be a blessing to those around me. I choose life over death. It is so easy to curse through words and actions and so hard to bless when others are so selfish. I ask that you would empower me through your Spirit to see ways in my life to be a blessing and impart your life to others. Amen.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Faith is believing in something even though we can’t see it. Some say they have no faith but we all have faith so some extent.
In the physical life:
- We believe in wind because we see the leaves moving for no apparent reason. But we know about wind. We can’t see it. We can feel it on our faces and see its results. Therefore, I have faith that wind exists.
- We believe in ‘chair-ability’. We see a chair. We’ve experienced chairs before. We know by faith from our previous experience that when we sit we will be upheld.
- We believe in wet. We can’t see wet. But we know when we touch water that wetness happens.
To say we have no faith implies we have had no experiences because faith is often learned by experiences.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. We can’t see God. We have His word to show us His actions through history. Actions that can be verified by historians, scientists and other scholars. We see his actions in creation and when we look into the skies. Living by faith is a decision to accept what we know to be true and applying it to life even when we can’t see it.
I live by faith, not sight when finances are tight and God says He’ll provide. I take the necessary actions to make wise choices. I live to the level of my ability and realize that money and possessions aren’t what life is about.
I live by faith, not sight when the doctor’s report isn’t good. I believe that my God is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. I know that my health is in His hands and that He knows what is best for me. No matter what the doctor says, I know my spiritual health is more important than my physical health. I trust Him to take care of me.
I live by faith, not sight when the relationship I thought would last for my entire life ends. I know that in God’s eyes it’s not so important why it failed or how it failed. What’s really important is that I come to Him for healing, knowing I’m forgiven and that He can still use me no matter what.
I live by faith, not sight when the political scene contradicts God’s law. I know that my sovereign God is ultimately in control of all things. Because He is in control, when the political scene grows worrisome I will stand in the face of adversity and walk all the more closely to Him for protection, guidance and wisdom.
I live by faith, not sight when the justice system fails me. I know that the unfair things of life are here only to make me stronger. I will work within the system for change and accept, as God’s will, when things don’t go my way.
I live by faith, not sight when God says I’m forgiven. It doesn’t matter what others say. It doesn’t matter how others treat me. It doesn’t matter how many times others bring up the mistakes of my past. I know my Redeemer lives. I know that He has forgiven me and there is nothing anyone can do to change my relationship with Him.
PRAYER: Father, it’s so easy to think about faith and so hard to live it. There are so many things in my life that scare me right now. So many doubts; so many feelings of inadequacy; so many questions about what is right and what is wrong. Life is so confusing. I ask that today you would help me to grow in my faith as I experience Your presence in my life. Amen.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2
Normally we think of the word ‘law’ and our mind conjures up pictures of bondage and restrictions that make living a life of freedom difficult at best and impossible in some situations. No one likes rules. Rules limit our creativity, destroy our freedom and take the fun out of life.
Of course that isn’t true. In reality, if we think about it a life without rules of some sort is a life of chaos and danger. Rules, in and of themselves, are good. They give us guidance, protection and prepare us for what lies ahead.
In reality, it isn’t the rules that bring us down, it’s the rule giver. If we have faith in the one making the rules and know that those rules are given in love and in our best interest it makes following them easier. If we are in love with the rule giver then we hardly notice the rules because relationship trumps rules every time.
God’s law is sometimes looked on with contempt for two reasons. One reason is that the people who see God’s laws as restrictive and out of touch don’t know God. They may know Him on an intellectual basis or as the topic of some religious system, but they don’t know Him in the realm of relationship.
When we are in relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, we see those rules as guidelines that will enable us to live in a way that allows us to use the natural gifts and abilities he has given us for His glory and our benefit.
If we are not in relationship with God we see His rules as harsh and out of touch with reality. The Bible says that the wisdom of God is foolishness to mankind because we are, in our human nature, unable to understand Him. Only when we are in relationship with Him and His Spirit is indwelling us, can we fully understand His ways.
A second reason we may think God’s laws are restrictive is because we don’t know what His word says. This is even true among those who are Christ-followers. Stagnant relationships die for lack of understanding and companionship. This is true in the spiritual realm as well as in the physical realm.
If we are not in His word daily and are not on a regular basis interacting with fellow believers we will lose sight of the meaning of His Word. The more we are in His word, the more we interact with Him through prayer, Bible Study and fellowship, the more we will grasp the beauty and reality of His ‘rules.’
The more we love God and commune with Jesus, the less God’s laws become burdensome. Take time each day to meditate on some part of the Bible. Talk to Jesus often and realize that no matter how often you fail Him, He will never let you down.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. I ask that you would help me to grow in my relationship with you. Show me the wisdom of your rules so that I may live a free and profitable life in you. Bring people and words into my life that will empower me to live for you. Amen.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
When we fall in love with someone there is a tendency to try to be everything that the person we love wants us to be. We may change the way we dress, the foods we eat, the music we listen to or anything else to try to win the ‘undying favor’ of the one loved.
If we are honest with ourselves and think about it, we make all these changes because we may feel afraid that if we don’t change we won’t be loved. While it’s never a bad thing to take a look at ourselves and consider making positive changes in our appearance or actions, they should never be at the expense of losing who we really are.
True love accepts you just the way you are. When God looks at you He is completely satisfied with everything you are. He may see things that He wants to work on with you to make you a better person, but He loves who you are completely. You need never fear losing that love.
Don’t allow the negative thoughts, words and actions of others to change how you feel about yourself. That’s not love. That’s mind manipulation and can lead to abuse either emotionally or even physically. Love should never have to hurt; should never be based on fear; should never require that you change who you are. Love accepts.
The only way to true love is through the one who is love. The Bible says that God is love. It doesn’t say that God has love in His heart or that God can love you if you change. When it says ‘God is love’ it means that love is in His very essence, His very soul. Everything about Him is love.
Because His love is perfect there is no fear with God. He doesn’t get mad at you when you fail. He won’t threaten you when you mess up for the third time in one day. He won’t give you the quiet treatment or throw things at you or remind you constantly that you failed Him last week. He won’t rely on put-downs and sarcasm to win an argument. That’s not love.
Be a believer in who you are because of Christ Jesus. When God looks at you in love He does so because you are His most valuable creation. Don’t allow the words of others and the threats of others change what you know. God loves you and He will never leave you. That’s what true love is about. If someone threatens you or makes you afraid in any way THAT is not love.
PRAYER: Father I thank you today that you are a God of love. I thank you that in my weakest moments, when I rebel selfishly, demand my own way or think evil of others, You still love me. You don’t require me to change to earn your love because there is nothing I can do to earn your perfect love. Please help me to live a life of love without fear. Empower me to break loose from any bondage, any person that includes fear or pain as a part of their love. I want to be free to love without fear from this point forward. Amen.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
Several years ago now I embarked on a journey that would take me nearly ten years to complete. For reasons I’m still not sure of I decided that I wanted to study the Bible from cover to cover. Not just read it. Study it.
I set up some rules for myself. I would only read a paragraph a day unless it was a short chapter. Proverbs was a treat in and of itself! I followed no specific pattern of book order, although I did try to alternate between Old and New Testaments as much as possible. I also made a commitment to myself that this would not become a ‘religious exercise’. I was going to do it because I wanted to, not out of obligation. If I missed a day or two I resolved to NOT send myself on some guilt trip. Life happens.
The ‘format’ for my study was really pretty simple. I bought a three ring binder and some lined paper. Each day that I studied I would put the date, the scripture to be read/studied and a ‘journal’ area. After reading the selected section of the Bible I would write down what I thought the passage meant to me. Lastly, I put a one line ‘Life Step’ after each journal entry. The ‘LIFE STEP’ would be one thought from the passage that I would take with me throughout my day. It may have been a verse or a thought. It ‘had to be’ something I could apply to my life.
There were some days when I would read a passage and go through my day encouraged by the things I read. His word and the lesson stayed with me all day long as I meditated on some thought from that passage.
There were other days when I did the process and to be honest didn’t really find anything that would grab me about my life and walk with God. It was interesting though that later, on occasion, some part of the passage would come to mind and I distinctly remember thinking, “Oh, that’s why God gave me the reading this morning!”
This experience taught me some valuable lessons.
First, God’s word is relevant for today. The more I read, the more I realized its importance in giving me wisdom, strength and encouragement.
Secondly, daily reading of God’s word gave me more awareness of God’s presence in my daily life. He showed me his presence in many ways that I’d never seen before.
Thirdly I began to see the Bible as one story, with many sub-stories, that showed that God uses people. Ordinary people like you and I to accomplish his work. These were people who sinned, rebelled, and struggled with life!
We are extremely blessed, in the United States especially, with a multitude of Bible Studies, Churches, TV shows and the internet to give us God’s word. Joshua was promised that by making God’s Word a priority in life he would see success and prosperity by God’s standards.
PRAYER: Father God. Thank you for your word the Holy Bible. Thank you for the fact that throughout generations your Word has continued to be the infallible guide we need to find rest, peace and hope in you. I praise you for your choce to use us, as ordinary sinful people, to accomplish your kingdom work here on earth. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 