God's Grace: Not Finished With Us Yet! WK2
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God's Grace: Not Finished With Us Yet!
God's Grace: Not Finished With Us Yet!
Apparently God’s grace is not finished with us at the moment we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. The grace of God wants to teach us a new way to live. “God loves me just the way I am.” Everyone is comfortable with that statement, but how about this one: “God loves me so much he won’t let me stay just the way I am.” First his grace saves, then it teaches. I think everyone is OK with “being saved,” but perhaps we skip school when it comes time to learn how to deny ungodliness, deny worldly passions, live sensibly and live upright lives.
“God loves me just the way I am.”
“God loves me just the way I am.”
“God loves me so much he won’t let me stay just the way I am.”
“God loves me so much he won’t let me stay just the way I am.”
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:
Richard Foster, a man who has spent his adult life encouraging Christians to grow in the grace of God, points out that the message of grace is the more than the first step, it is necessary for every step. Sadly many Christians have been taught that any effort on their part runs counter to God’s forgiving grace. “Having been saved by grace,” he writes, “these people have been paralyzed by it.”
The Apostle Peter concurs on the subject of God’s grace: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (, NIV). In fact James, the brother of Jesus, says the very same thing (). It turns out they were both quoting , those inspired words written nearly a thousand years before the church came into being.
If Peter and James both latched on to this teaching from Proverbs, it must be important. First, it tells us that God gives grace. Fair enough: isn’t that what God is supposed to do? But this verse also tells us that God gives grace to certain kinds of people—humble people. Finally it also tells us that God can withhold grace from another kind of people—the proud. Keep in mind that Peter and James were writing to believers.
Paul’s advice to Titus says that grace does at least two things.
Paul’s advice to Titus says that grace does at least two things.
It saves and teaches.
It saves and teaches.
Some People say that sounds too much like “works”
God’s Grace is not opposed to effort, It is opposed to earning.
God’s Grace is not opposed to effort, It is opposed to earning.
God’s Grace is Not Opposed to Effort, It Is Opposed to Earning.
God’s Grace is Not Opposed to Effort, It Is Opposed to Earning.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew
Mannaseh 2 Chronicles 33
· Even in the midst of gross iniquity, God is still speaking
(v. 10): Even after a long list of rebellious acts against God, the text reveals that God was still reaching out to Manasseh. If you’ve been told that God hides from your sin, you’ve been misled. Our sin is one of the very reasons God continues to reach out to us. He loves us and refuses to give up on us. But it's not just that his love reaches down; a humble heart reaches up.
· God knows how to humble us
(v. 11): There’s a massive difference between being humbled by the Almighty and humbling yourself before him. God may arrange circumstances that bring us low in the eyes of others, but only we can lower ourselves before God. He can extend severe mercy, but we remain in control of our own thoughts and hearts.
· Our hearts can move God’s heart
v. 13): This is an astounding revelation! God is not impressed by human power, wealth, or wisdom, but he is impressed by the human heart. When a man or woman chooses contrition, the Father tells all heaven to be quiet. Our prayers never have more power than when we take our proper place before him.
(v. 13): This is an astounding revelation! God is not impressed by human power, wealth, or wisdom, but he is impressed by the human heart. When a man or woman chooses contrition, the Father tells all heaven to be quiet. Our prayers never have more power than when we take our proper place before him.
· Our humble example can influence the generations to come
(v. 25): Manasseh had a grandson named Josiah, who, as a child, sparked a nationwide revival. I like to imagine that Josiah heard firsthand from his grandfather the horrors of rebellion and the grace of humility. Our life lessons can become the seed that springs up thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold in the lives of those who follow.
As we grow in Grace, Jesus becomes more visible to us, and through us.
As we grow in Grace, Jesus becomes more visible to us, and through us.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”