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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
There are perhaps no words more devastating than the words “There’s nothing more we can do.” It could be the words of the doctor after the test results come back. On a far lighter scale it could be as the scoreboard clock registers zero and the ball falls harmlessly to the floor. Whatever the reason, those words bring indescribable agony to each of us.
There is, however, a time when these words can bring refreshment and life. That is when we each come to a point where we fully realize that there is no way we can live the way God wants us too. That’s when we come to the end of ourselves and admit that we don’t have what it takes to break that addiction, heal that relationship or endure the pain of illness or financial disaster.
The point when each of us falls to our knees and, in agony cries out to God that “There’s nothing I can do! I’m helpless!” is when His grace takes over. The bar that is set for us to live pleasing lives for God is too high for human achievement and effort.
That’s what Grace is about. That’s why Jesus came to die. He did it so that you could experience the freedom of life with God even though you are weak, stubborn or are hounded by addictions and relational dysfunction.
The Creator God of the universe knew we would not be able to measure up to His standards. That’s why He sent Jesus to die for us. Now we can experience the undeserved favor He has in store for us.
The ultimate irony in all this is that often times we as Christ-followers gladly accept the free gift of forgiveness and then turn around and try to ‘earn it’ by doing all sorts of things to appease God. Some of the things we do are very good things. For example, fill in the blank for this sentence. “To be a good Christian I need to __________________.”
Some of the possible answers could be: Go to church every Sunday; Read the Bible and pray every day; belong to a small group Bible study; and the list goes on. These are all very good things and important for our spiritual growth. However we don’t need to do those things to appease God. The debt is paid! There’s nothing more that needs to be done.
God doesn’t expect perfection from us. That’s why He is a God of second and third and forth chances. When you make a bad choice or stumble again ask for forgiveness and for the strength to do better next time. Then move on. Don’t allow the daily mistakes you make keep you from the freedom you have in Jesus. Jesus doesn’t keep score or compare you to others. His gift is free to all!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. Some days I feel like I’m the least worthy of anyone to be forgiven. I’m stubborn, rebellious and rely on myself to get through life. Thank you for your free gift of Jesus. Forgive me for trying to gain your approval or for trying to do life my way. Empower me to live in the freedom you intended for me to have through your Grace. Amen.
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6
One day the prophet Jeremiah was told by God to visit the house of the local potter. As Jeremiah watched, the potter worked gently shaping a piece of clay. In the process of forming the pot, the potter noticed a flaw in the clay. “This will never do,” he said. With that he began to reform the pot until the flaw was gone and a perfectly useful pot was formed. God said to Jeremiah, “just as the potter shaped this vessel for use, so I can shape my people to be used in the best way possible.”
Just as the potter was able to take the piece of clay in his hands and mold it into something useful, something perfectly able to accomplish the task it needed to accomplish, God shapes us daily so that we are better able to accomplish all that He has desired for us. Like a skilled artist God is molding you and shaping you into the person He wants you to be.
As God the Father is shaping you it’s important to remember some things about how He works. Just as the potter is very deliberate in his work, so our Heavenly Father is passionate about what He is doing in your life. His actions are never arbitrary or random. No movement of His hands is without reason. As a Sovereign God He makes every moment of our lives an opportunity to grow stronger and more effective.
As the potter shapes the clay, he pays attention to detail. No flaw goes unnoticed. He knows that even the smallest of flaws can make a vessel worthless. He knows the limitations of the clay but also knows the possibilities. Our Father is never willing to allow us to be useless vessels due to the flaws in our lives. Rather, he works each flaw out so that we can be strong and useful vessels for Him.
The potter also works patiently. He knows that a strong pot is formed slowly. Only under the direst of circumstances is he harsh and forceful with the clay. When that happens it happens for a reason and for a short time so that the clay can be reformed into something special. Sometimes God has to bring harsh things into our lives to work out the flaws and make us stronger. He does so in love and for our benefit.
Lastly, the potter is proud of his work. He has worked long and hard to make each vessel useful, strong and beautiful. Our Father does the same for us. Some stores sell products that are imperfect, or rejects. You can buy them at a discounted price because they are flawed. God doesn’t send us into the world as rejects or irregulars. We are His prized possessions. With His gentle hands He molds us, shapes us and works out the flaw so that we can be used for Him.
PRAYER: Father thank you for caring enough about me that you will not allow me to be a flawed vessel. I praise you for the fact that you will mold me and shape me to be the best I can possibly be. Help me to be empowered by you to be used in real and mighty ways. I pray this for your name’s sake. Amen.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Ephesians 6:14
The Roman soldiers were in constant danger and the threat of attack. This was especially so in Israel since the Jews hated the Roman occupation. The Roman soldier wore a girdle, breast-plate, shoes with iron nails, a helmet to protect his head, and carried a great shield on his left arm which was thrown in front of his body. His weapon was the sword. It was with the sword, not the spear as other nations, that the Romans conquered the world.
But holding it all together was the girdle, or belt. Without the belt, the soldier’s armor was dangerously flawed at best and completely useless at the worst.
As Christ followers we are given a belt as well. It is the belt of Truth and its purpose is to be the basis for all we do and all we are. It is Truth that guides our actions, filters our thoughts and attitudes and inspires us to press on. The Truth we function on is absolute Truth, Truth with a capital T. Truth that cannot be changed, altered or destroyed.
Here are some of the components of the Truth we as Christ-followers stand on:
- There is one God who is creator and sustainer of the Universe and who by His own design has made man and woman so that He can be in a perfect, eternal relationship with us.
- Jesus Christ is the only way to find God. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He died as an innocent man for those of us who could never hope to be innocent and rose from the dead so that we could have life eternal.
- Because I have asked forgiveness of my sins and have asked Jesus to take permanent residence in my life I can approach the very throne of God and address Him as my daddy.
- I know that I am a child of the living God, with special talents and abilities and personality traits that are special to me and make me His unique creation. I am His masterpiece, His Plan A, His most cherished of all possessions.
- I am forgiven, not perfect. My daddy has never expected me to be perfect. He is not surprised by my failures and rejoices in my victories. He’s been at every ball game I’ve played in, every performance I’ve been a part of and every test I’ve taken.
- He is the first one to rise and applaud for me. Whenever He sees me He gives me a standing ovation. He loves me.
- He is my constant source of support, encouragement, protection and understanding.
- Some day whether at death or at His promised return He will greet me face to face with open arms and welcome me home as a long, lost son and say “Nice Job! You were everything I hoped you would be.” Those words will not be due to my performance and ability to ‘live right’ but because of my reliance on Him.
It is on these truths that I stand. I am not perfect. I am weak and stubborn and selfish and sometimes just plain ornery. He knows that and loves me anyway. And THAT is why I love Jesus.
PRAYER: Daddy. I love you. Thank you for always being there for me. Thanks for hanging my picture on your refrigerator and keeping all those silly trophies I worked so hard to win. I know realize that the real trophy in my life is and always will be you. Forgive me for being distracted and rebellious. Help me to follow your Truth and not the fickle truth of the world. In the name of your Son Jesus I pray. Amen.
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
Nothing is harder than to love someone who is either unable to, or refuses to return your love. Extending love is personal. It’s intimate. It makes you vulnerable. You put yourself on the line and if you are accepted and that love is returned you feel fulfilled, happy, complete.
But when love is not returned, it’s like doing open heart surgery with a dull knife and no anesthesia. You lay your heart before the one you want to love you and if that person rejects your love he/she is rejecting you. You become like a warrior who loses his sword and shield just as the enemy attacks. There is no warning. There is no defense. There is no hope.
It’s that one aspect that makes God’s love for us so amazing. When we are rejected in our attempts at love our human nature is to withdraw ourselves. Depending on the situation, our withdrawal could be permanent. We evaluate the situation and decide that this love really wasn’t love at all and move on to find a new love.
On the other hand, if we are so dependent on that person that we MUST love them we may do anything to keep that love. Even if staying in that relationship means abuse, unhappiness or danger (even to the point of death). Our very being, our essence depends on our having this relationship. We stay in the ‘relationship’ but lose who we are in the process.
God’s love, on the other hand, says this: “I love you. I will always love you. No matter how many times you pull away from me. No matter how often you scream at me in anger and abuse my name and ignore my advances, I love you.”
He draws me to Himself. During those times of my anger He sits quietly, patiently. Knowing me so well that He knows exactly the time to come to me, when I can no longer do life alone.
One reason our Father is able to love this way is because our rejection of Him has no bearing on who He is; on His power to heal; or on His willingness and passionate desire to draw near to us. He is God. He is our Loving Heavenly Father and He pleads with you to come and rest in His arms and call Him ‘Daddy’. Passionate desire! How awesome is that! He’s not a shy lover waiting in the shadows for you to notice Him. He’s a passionate lover who pursues you, who makes every opportunity to show you His love.
With such a God as this what shall keep me from living life to the fullest? I am loved! Unconditionally, completely, eternally loved in spite of my stubborn will and my constant struggle to follow His ways.
With such love as this within me, how can I learn to love others in the same way that I am loved? How will the love of Jesus shine forth in new and passionate ways to those who have been shattered by forsaken love?
PRAYER: My Lord and my God. I am once again taken back in awe by Your great love for me. I ask once more that you would forgive me for ignoring your love. I’m stubborn and selfish and seek only my own pleasure when I should seek to give you glory. Help me to let your love shine through me so that I can be secure in whom I am and show Christ’s love in passionate ways to those in my world. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 