His Grace Alone

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

(I may get back to the Psalms one day!) But for now it's whatever comes my way...

I pray scales would fall off eyes and that tunnel vision would become more peripherally possible, deaf ears would be open to hear, hearts would be softened to receive and selves would be humbled, in Jesus' name.

I was delving into Ephesians. Sometimes you want to just read the whole book but the Lord has other plans and keeps you focused on smaller parts. Ahhhh. I was in chapter 1; couldn't get past it.

I've written about this before but it's worth writing again. Long before the beginning of time God had us on His mind. He knew and knows just who will hear His truth and allow themselves to respond and be set free from the hands of the enemy. Someone needs to know/hear this. It's a message from old and one for today...and tomorrow...but best for now! Oh, the promises, if....

He chose us...before the foundation of the world...predestined us...to become holy...according to the good pleasure of His will...by His grace...His acceptance...enabling our redemption...forgiving of sins...obtaining an inheritance...sealed of Him because of our belief...giving us wisdom and prudence...allowing us to know the mystery of His will...according to His good will...to become in Him.

This is for those who are called saints, those who believe Jesus Christ is Lord over all. This will not be for all people. It's offered to all, but not all will receive. These are not some arrogant words. They are part of the narrow truth that Jesus preaches. Hard words? Yes. Jesus, as I've said over and over, did not always preach easy words. That's why He was so despised...and it continues today.

These words are for those who have truly received Christ, whose lives are filled with His Word and meditated on daily and whose thoughts are on Him frequently...or more! Not all people believe this. Not all people will consider this. Some will think it's taking it a bit too far. But it's what's required...

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) was the scripture that stood out on April 18, 1999, when by God's grace alone, by His will, I became one of the saints mentioned in Ephesians, verse 1.

Micah earlier states that it is not our offerings that will please the Lord. No works, just His grace. The definition of grace according to Webster is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification. Unmerited, yet making us righteous saints. We don't deserve it for the sinful people we are. However, when we come to the end of ourselves, acknowledge there is One greater than man and self and admit we need a Savior, then we are so welcomed into the Kingdom of God. We are, getting back to Ephesians, blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places...in Christ.

To only know who Jesus is just doesn't cut it. It's all about knowing in our spirits...having true faith in God...attaining the spirit of wisdom and revelation...having the eyes of our understanding enlightened...that we might know the real hope of His calling...knowing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance and exceeding greatness of His power (the anointing I wrote about yesterday!)

All this comes through Jesus Christ. It does not come until we allow ourselves the full knowledge of Him. Don't turn away from these words. If they can be imparted to me, they can be yours also. You only need to believe on the One whose words these are, who has spoken them, who wants to share them with all people. Let the eyes of your understanding be open to receive and not be turned away by what could be considered arrogance.

Jesus was not arrogant. He was humble. He was a servant to all, fully man yet fully God. He lowered Himself...took Himself off the throne in Heaven to live among us that we might see Him and get to know Him. How can we look arrogantly or pridefully into His face and say we don't need Him? 

This earthly life has nothing lasting to give us. It has treasures and riches that can be lost in an instant. Look around today. Is there absolute confidence or protection? Absolute peace? Good is being replaced in greater amounts by evil. It is believed we might be seeing the last days, that we are living in the last days. We need to know we are safe from all the hatred and evil in this world. We need to know that we know that Jesus has given us every opportunity to be counted among the saints in heaven and blessed with every spiritual blessing...not earthly but spiritual. And the hope only He brings.

A friend of mine and I comment regularly about what we see happening in the world, how it sure looks like what the Bible tells us the last days will be like. And yet we still go through our days enjoying what we have, not fretting about what we see. We can have moments of anxiety about what we will be faced with, what we might have to go through...in addition to the daily things that bring impatience, frustration, sadness, anger...but there is always a deep-seated sense of peace because we know Jesus has us covered! All things are under His feet, which puts us right up there with Him, protected under His wings, if we choose to do receive Him.

Matthew 16:26 tells it like it is: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world (money, prestige, fancy home, best clothes, expensive car...all that money can buy), and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Remember, we cannot bring anything but our own selves to Him so His grace alone can save us. It is shaking off our pride and self-determination or self anything that gets us where He wants us. He humbled Himself and died for our sakes; let us humble our selves and in the process die to our own selves for His sake.

At the end of the first chapter of Ephesians we are encouraged in our true knowledge of who Jesus is for those who are called by His name: all things are under His feet (He is utterly and thankfully in complete control)...He is the head of all things...He fills all in all. He is all we need. Our provision. When we have Him, the most important need is met...eternal life.

Matthew 16:25 - For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.