Today's Lectionary TextRomans 5:2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Today's Devotional
Grace, God's Grace; Grace that is greater than all my sins. I love that line of the hymn "Grace Greater Than Our Sin" words by Julia H. Johnston written in 1911 from Romans 5:20 put to music written by Daniel B. Towner from 1910. We ended our worship time together last Sunday with that as our closing hymn in the churches I serve presently. I would like to also highlight Ephesians 2: 4-5 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--It is by grace you have been saved."
God's Grace, His marvelous and wondrous grace is offered to all who will bend a knee and bow before the Lord and seek Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus Christ is our Redeeming Lord who has become for us an "Atonement" for our sins and is the "Gate" to enter into Heaven. He alone is our Hope for eternal life, and He has brought us to the foot of the Cross that we might seek forgiveness for our confessed sins. No other name carries such power, no other name will save us as we admit our transgressions against God's commands for us. In Ephesians 2:6-9 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." It is important for us to hear this "by His Kindness we have found unmerited favor and forgiving love from God." We also must hear that it is not by works that we are saved, but by faith in Jesus Christ and seeking to live as Christ in the world making disciples of all the nations of the world that no one should perish. We should not seek to build a reputation and seek that humanity come to us; we should not want to be known as the "one" with the knowledge and power by our works of piety. We should instead, seek to silently and willingly seek to humbly serve God by serving one another out of love of God and neighbor. Verse 10 sums it up this way, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God is the "Potter" we are the "clay" and God molds and shapes us into vessels filled with His love and grace to be poured out on suffering humanity that is lost in trespasses to sin as they seek for good in the world. The "good works" that are needed come from those who are saved by God's gift of Grace in Jesus Christ by faith and who are willing then to go and to do as they are sent by God into the world as He sent Jesus Christ. We are not sent to be saviors of the world, but to be those who are working with a willing heart to reveal the "Savior of the World" to all people. We should not boast of what we did; we should be glad that God chose us to be used as an instrument of His Grace for another and be willing to witness to God's love and grace that is offered by faith in Jesus Christ. I love verse 4 of the hymn I mentioned at first: "Marvelous. infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see his face, will you this moment his grace receive?" You who are weary and tired of the world's craziness and corruption; are you ready to receive the gift of Grace, God's grace in Jesus Christ by faith? Jesus says "Come to me, all ye who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus Christ is waiting for you to call on Him and receive God's gift of Grace. Are you willing to call, to wait on the Lord, and then to "Go" in the name of the Lord to tell all about the wonderful gift of God's Grace? Go in God's peace and love into all the world beginning today. Prayer for ReflectionIn Jesus Christ's name I pray for all of you who are seeking to find Jesus Christ today. Amen
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