A Journey of Grace:Sneaky Grace

Grace at work in the World.

God’s work of grace in his good creation begins with the fall of humanity. When we had fallen into sin and suffering and death entered God’s good creation God’s work of grace to redeem the goodness of creation begins right there. When we had fallen into sin God in his great love and mercy sent Jesus Christ, grace made flesh, the grace of God that brings salvation, which has appeared to all people, into his beloved creation. That grace is still at work in the world.

One of my favorite stories of grace at work in someones life actually came from an army chaplain. Wicca came to Christ

Brothers and Sisters that is God’s prevenient grace at work. Prevenient grace grace put simply is God comes to us before we come to God. God’s grace seeks us out and comes to where we are, and personally meets us where we are.

Luke 19:9–10 NLT

9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

2 Peter 3:9 NRSV

9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Today on the journey of grace we are going to look at prevenient grace, or sneaky grace. That is the grace already at work in our loved ones who don’t personally know Jesus. That is the grace at work among the lost in our communities. That is the grace, that as followers of Christ we must look for and work with. When we accept that grace is already at work around us it takes the pressure off us and allows us to work with God. Letting people know that God is at work in their lives even now. May God give us the eyes to see Him at work in the world around us, and may we be quick to join in the work.

Cornelius Journey of Grace

Who was Cornelius?

a) Roman Centurion

b) Unclean Gentile

c) Devout, God fearing man (Luke 7:1-10)

GOD WAS ALREADY AT WORK IN CORNELIUS LIFE

a) Prays daily

b) God speaks to him

C) God tells him to send for Peter (a specific person to deliver the message) Ananias and Paul

God Speaks to Peter

a) Peter’s vision

b) God tells Peter to go to Cornelius

c) Peter working against the Jewish religious laws. Much like Jesus eating with sinners like the Tax collector Zacheus. Acts 10:28-29

Cornelius hears the message and is baptized.

a) Peter delivers the message of forgiveness, God had given him.

b)While he was still speaking the message was received and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

c) Peter fetches the water and everyone in Cornelius house experienced God’s saving grace.

God’s Amazing grace

You know the most amazing thing to me about grace is prevenient grace. Grace that came and found me where I was. Grace that while I was yet a sinner, God came to me in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the very grace of God at work in me, at work in you and even at work in the lives of those who don’t yet know Christ.

AJ Story

Brothers and sisters the work of God’s amazing grace isn’t done in me, it isn’t done in you. It is at work in and through us. It’s at work in us making us more like Christ. It is at work through us by being like Peter, or Ananias and letting others know that God, who spoke this world into existence, is at work in their lives. God’s amazing grace is at work through us helping others see Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, the life, already at work in their lives.

God’s sneaky grace is at work all around us. May we have eyes to see where God is already at work in the lives of our family, our neighbors, and help them to see God already at work in their lives.

God’s sneaky grace may call us to people and places we are hesitant to go. We must be obedient to go like Ananias, and Peter. God meets each one of us in our unique ways. His grace is no different it meets people where they are, but thanks be to God it doesn’t leave us where we are. Christ invites us on this Journey with him, a journey with the ultimate goal of Christlikeness. Let us go today with eyes to see God’s grace at work, and ears to hear who God may be calling us to invite along the journey.