Amazing Grace Alone

Matthew 5:17-18 - Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

You hear me say this often: it’s not about a religion but a relationship. This relationship is with Jesus Christ. A church doesn’t save us. Our works don’t save us. Rituals don’t save us. Being what we think is good doesn’t save us. There is only one way we can be saved and that is through Jesus Christ. Not just knowing who He is. But having experienced a change within. An I know that I know that I know I have been touched by God experience. Being saved is one of God’s miracles. Anyone who has known this just plain knows. I still do as if it was yesterday and it’s been 20 years. 

He did all the work on the cross. He is the One who said it was finished. Our role in all this is believing what He did was sufficient and putting our trust in His accomplished work. 

I read or heard this the other day and it has stuck with me, though I’ve known this for some time: when children are small they trust their father (or parents) explicitly. It’s the same for us with God. He tells us we are to come to Him as little children. That means with total trust in our Heavenly Father. No questions asked. It is the same principle, which example I believe is God-inspired! He sure can use everyday life to reveal His nature. Praise Him!

You can look at a lot of the things in this world and see God’s hand on them. The seasons and how things are born, grow, age, die and return. The cycle of nature’s life. It mimics ours to some degree. In our life we die, but do not return to earth. But...in the cycle of life in Christ, we can live on after death. But only when we have put our trust in Jesus Christ alone for the remission of our sins.

This means allowing His grace (unmerited favor) of God toward mankind and mercy into our lives, not what man thinks we need to do to attain God’s love and acceptance. We all know the song: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. We have to be able to say we are a wretch! And we have to be able to admit we are lost and blind, but through Christ we are made to see the truth...of His Word, of what He has done, of our wretchedness and dark hearts...those things only He can change. 

It can be a difficult thing to understand and yet it is so simple. It’s the simplicity of Christ alone. No certain prayer or ritual prayers repeated. Those things we might do in hopes they will please God are like the Old Testament sacrifices being made constantly to atone for sin. When Christ came, and while those laws help us to understand rights and wrongs, He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. His work on the cross did it. If we are in Christ, hidden in Christ, God sees only His Son standing before Him. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:3-4)

If anyone trusts that their rituals, church, goodness, or works will be pleasing to God, this is wrong. Give your life to Jesus and you will know the truth...and that is what will set you free. Honest.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Grace and Patience?

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace [the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners], that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it.]

An old blog from  June, 2010... Don't remember the situation but have felt the irritableness mentioned here this week and this spoke volumes even tonight! I love when God does this.

As always, God gives when it is most needed. Saturday I needed a fresh filling of grace over a situation that occurred. I received the grace and the patience necessary. Grace is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification according to Webster's Dictionary.

I had just written my blog of the day as well a response to a friend's blog, where I had "complained" about my situation. Then I took the time to pick up Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest devotions and read the devotion for that day. It was just what I needed. I love it when God does this. Sometimes I don't always ask Him how to handle a situation. It's in my mind and often the answer appears...no doubt by God's plan. I'm not saying we shouldn't go to Him, as in this case of grace and patience. There are times when He's the only one to go to for specific situations. 

Chambers said this: In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses" - that is where the test for patience comes. Of course, all I saw was afflictions and distresses. Not that I was in a great distress or affliction, but just at a great loss of patience! I'm so thankful for Jesus' temptations in the world. He knew every temptation known to man and, by golly, He overcame each and every one. How did He do that? He did not look at the circumstances but looked to the wisdom His Father had given Him. There is a solution to every temptation in this world, if we seek His advice. Most often the answer is just Have patience, my child. I know you don't understand, but I do. I will handle this...in my time, in my way. Just be patient. Endure.

A pastor one time told about a day he arose feeling all out of sorts and couldn't put his finger on what it was. He was irritable, like he'd awakened on the wrong side of the bed. He thought he'd get to church and spend some time in prayer in the sanctuary. Well, that failed when someone came in with gusto, not realizing he was there, about her business. Disgruntled, he went to his office and put his head in his hands and just called out, What is going on, Lord? Help me overcome this. He began to weep and suddenly felt a peace come over him. I don't know that he ever got an answer as to why, but he got what God had to offer, peace, which produces patience.

Later I read this: ...when we are in the pit, the enemy will try to get us to focus on our circumstances, rather than on God’s faithfulness...So if we let the circumstances determine what we believe, we can be caught in the lies of the pit. - Pastor Robert Morris  Ach, yah! If we let our impatience overcome, we only add to our distress. That's when we need to ask for God's grace for a renewal of patience. Yes, God has the peace that passes all understanding. When we succumb to our feelings, we are opening the door to how the enemy of our soul, the devil, would have us react, and prevent us from doing God's will.

Peace comes when we give it to God and choose to be patient. Patience is enduring. The key is knowing where our peace comes from and drawing from that peace, allowing it to abide in us. But when we become overwhelmed, Chambers tells us not to wait until we are in need of patience and God's grace to overcome. He tells us: Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need. The second we are in the throes of "that moment" we should call out, seek God immediately, rather than wait till we have a the time to pray. Do it NOW, as soon as we realize that unsettling feeling.

Jesus knows what temptations we go through. That's a good thing. We need only to draw on His peace, wisdom and sometimes just realizing we won't receive an answer and taking God for His word that He does know and He does care and He will handle it in His own time. 

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work..."My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2Corinthians 9:8, 2Corinthians 12:9)