GRACE TO OBEY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 5, 2020

SUBJECT : GRACE TO OBEY!

Memory verse: "

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me

." (First Corinthians 15 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 2 vs 8 - 10:

2:8: For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9: not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

INTIMATION:

God knows our weaknesses hence we find freedom to obey from the grace (unmerited favor) bestowed on us through our faith in Christ, and not by our works. We became Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. God showered His kindness on us—this is also called God’s “grace.” This is His voluntary and loving favor given to those He saves. We can’t earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. No religious, intellectual, or moral effort can gain it, because it comes only from God’s mercy and love. Without God’s grace, no person can be saved. No one can come to Christ except the Father draws (John 6 vs 44 & 65). 

However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to obey God out of love for what He has done for us. As a sinner, separated from God, you see his law from below, as a ladder to be claimed to get to God. This becomes more obvious when you have tried repeatedly to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced some rungs of the ladder. Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up. In either case, you are relieved seeing Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the law, to take you directly to God! Once Jesus lifts you into God's presence, you are free to obey; out of love, not necessity, and through God's power, not your own. 

In our memory verse, the apostle Paul acknowledges the gift of grace from God. He posited that, ‘Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His grace or special favor on me.’ If we want to live eternally with Christ, we must depend totally on God’s grace. This is true whether we have been murderers or honest, hardworking citizens. We have all sinned repeatedly, and any sin is enough to cause us to need to come to Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life. Apart from Christ, there is no way for our sin to be forgiven and removed.

There are great tension in daily Christian experience. The conflict is that we agree with God’s commands but cannot do them. As a result, we are painfully aware of our sin. The apostle Paul says, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7 vs 23 - 25.) This inward struggles with sin was as real for the apostles Paul as it is for us. From him we learn what to do about it. Whenever he felt overwhelmed by the spiritual battle, he would return to the beginnings of his spiritual life, remembering how he had been freed from sin by Jesus Christ. When we feel confused and overwhelmed by sin’s appeal, let us claim the freedom Christ gave us. His power can lift us to victory.

No matter your sin or offensive past life, faith in Christ gives you the required grace to obey, because where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5 vs 20). In Christ the assurance is given that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground. Instead, you will be caught and held in Christ's loving arms. 

In John 6 vs 37 - 40, Jesus clearly states the will of God the Father concerning us who believe in Christ. Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in union with Him. This will give us even more assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by Him, and not even your failures will stop His helping hands. Anyone who makes a sincere commitment to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior is secure in God's promise of everlasting life. Christ will not let His people be overcome by Satan and lose their salvation. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Your unparalleled love and mercy, gift of grace to obey given me. Perfect Your strength in my weaknesses that I may forever live for You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!