Grace is one of those things that, though offered, is so often misunderstood. We like to assume that grace relieves us of responsibility and provides an out for a lack of commitment, devotion, and integrity. To the contrary, grace should inspire us to reach beyond the minimum requirement, to exceed the status quo. As Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount he clearly spelled out the implications of grace. He began with, “You have heard it said, ‘do not commit adultery.’” Yet under the grace displayed in Christ he continued, “But I tell you that if you even look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart.” Grace ups the anty. We cannot fully understand the depth and magnitude of God’s grace unless we also understand the reality of his holiness and judgment. When we understand the fruit of our sin and rebellion – physical and spiritual death – and realize the extent of God’s mercy in withholding that judgment, then, as we recognize God’s blessing in view of our failure, we will be overwhelmed by his grace. This grace will compel us toward the biggest, greatest expressions of love and gratitude that we can muster. No longer will we be content not to murder, but we will reject anger on the basis of the patience, love and compassion that we ourselves have been shown by God. To encounter the grace of God is to be changed; made new; and to bear fruit in keeping with the character and nature of God as it is being formed in us. To receive this grace in vain is to expect that there is no response necessary on our part. It is a “me-first,” take-only mentality that can poison the Kingdom. If the grace of God has left you unchanged and inactive, then certainly it must be considered that you never really received it in the first place. It is written, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For had they belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” There were those who followed Jesus, quite taken with his ability to teach, heal, and cast out demons. Upon encountering the cost of being a disciple, many of them left. They were unwilling to invest themselves because they were utterly ignorant of what they had been given. We cannot out-give God. Do not receive God’s grace in vain. Open yourself to discover the fullness of life God has given you. Let his grace compel you to as missionary William Carey said, both “expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.” In this God is glorified and revealed and you bear fruit.
Weekly Devotional: April 25, 2010
Words to Grow On
“I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me.”
~ Song of Songs 7:10
I am often amazed at the things we will give ourselves away to. We will cast our devotion to a sports team that doesn’t even know we exist and realistically wouldn’t miss our cheering or jeering. We will surrender our time and attention to “reality” TV casts and live vicariously through their self-exploitation. We yield our bodies and time to habits and hobbies that afford us mere moments of pleasure, but most disturbingly, we will give ourselves away to unhealthy relationships that wound our heart and ruin us for future relationships. In a healthy relationship, the desire of the one is for the other. Typically, in our society, each party in a relationship is looking out for their own interests. When one party’s expectations are no longer being met they “fall out of love” and check out, or leave altogether. The reason you and I keep throwing ourselves at people who use us up and toss us aside when we no longer measure up: Ignorance. When you are ignorant of your identity and worth, you will fall into the trap of simply believing what you’re told and taking the best available thing. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” When you fail to do so, you will give your heart away to all manner of people and things that are not worthy of it. They barely respect themselves and so they certainly do not respect you. Love doesn’t work like that. God’s intent in the marriage relationship is for two people, whole and secure in their identity and worth in Christ, to be united in will and purpose; seeking the best interest of the other and being filled through that mutually beneficial union. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.” Prior to marriage, the highest human relationship is that of parent and child. Once a spouse is chosen, that relationship is set aside – redefined – and the spousal relationship takes priority. “Their desire is for you.” It isn’t hard to give yourself to someone whose desire is you and your best interest. Marriage is the hub of family activity. Through marriage, an environment is created for the rearing of children where they receive essential clues to their identity and worth. From the marriage of their parents, children learn how to interact with their future spouse which will influence generations to come. The commitment and self-sacrifice demonstrated in marriage teaches and influences the culture around it and equips the married to engage society as a whole, stable unit. A healthy, world-influencing marriage requires two healthy people living together as a healthy unity. The foundation is Christ, and the framework is commitment; first to God, then to each other. The results are priceless.
Weekly Devotional: April 18, 2010
Words to Grow On
“Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.”
We all want a place where we belong; where we are accepted, nurtured, and can contribute. God’s intent is that belonging and identity begin to be formed in the context of family. Families are micro social orders where we learn to function and find the equipping and encouraging to become significant in the greater society. Unfortunately, the family structure in our current culture has suffered and seldom serves its intended purpose. When the economy dictates that both parents need to work and/or society determines that marital or family commitment is merely a frivolous sentimental notion, the family unit breaks down and fails to serve its purpose. The result is that men, women, and particularly children come to long for both belonging and significance, but fail to find it. They begin to seek it through other, less healthy venues and wind up wounded and causing wounds in others. Even in families that remain together there is often a breakdown in the intended family dynamic. Rather than living together as a family, many American families simply cohabitate. In these homes there is very little nurture or encouragement or discipline and the result is very much the same as if the family appeared more dysfunctional. Just as there is abuse that is not physical, there is a forsaking that does not require a physical departure. A healthy family is made up of healthy individuals. Healthy individuals are built on a solid foundation. The things of this world: It’s values, priorities, and trappings; even its relationships are unstable foundations. These are all perishing. The great tragedy of the demise of the family is that it taints our view of the eternal. God is our heavenly Father, yet if our earthly father was less than a father we will often impose his limitations on our heavenly Father. In the same way, our relationship with our biological brothers and sisters will affect how we relate to our brothers and sisters in Christ. To build healthy family ties, we need to begin with a solid, stable foundation. Unlike human relationships, a relationship with God will never let you down. He may not always make sense to you, but you have to expect that. Time will prove he is always looking out for what is best for you. Earthly family is a blessing, but at the same time, we are called into a higher family with God as our Father and many brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. It is a challenge to learn to trust God and connect with a “high family.” When you begin to, though, you will find that “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” And with that, comes belonging and significance like you have never known.
Weekly Devotional: April 11, 2010
Words to Grow On
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
We live in a culture that constantly asks, “What have you done for me lately?” We want to look at relationships and easily find their worth. We place value on our connection with others based on what we get out of the deal. The less we see, the less we are willing to invest. The problem is that our standard of what is good and valuable is incredibly shallow. We want people around us who will make us feel good. We would rather hear flattering words and see a cooperative effort rather than hear the truth and be challenged. We want to feel good; we don’t really care about becoming good. We have redefined words like “fair” and “good” to mean “favorable to us,” or “in line with what we want.” We are, in fact, selling ourselves horribly short. Have you ever stopped to think that those people you have gathered around you who “tell you what your itching ears want to hear;” those who go along with your every whim are actually an enemy to you? These people clearly do not have your best interest in mind. They want to keep you happy so they can continue to gain whatever it is they want from you. Those who withhold the truth tell lies and they do so for their own selfish motives. You cannot grow and truly prosper surrounded by such weeds. On the other hand, have you ever considered that when you do not speak the truth to your friend, you are acting as an enemy to them? Every time I chicken out and fail to challenge a friend when I know they are wrong, I fail them for the sake of my own comfort. Read that again for yourself. True friends are first found in right relationship to God; being filled by him and transformed by his love. That love is received and then poured out. You can trust your true friend because you know that they will speak the hard word, they will do so with gentleness and respect, and they will do so out of love for you. Their desire is your good. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” When iron sharpens iron sometimes sparks fly, but we endure and persevere because we know we will be stronger…and sharper in the end. We all need good friends. We also need to be a good friend to those around us. Be filled with God’s love and become trustworthy; especially in the hard stuff.
Weekly Devotional: April 4, 2010
Words to Grow On
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
The Foundation of the Christian faith is not religion; it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What separates Christianity from all other world religions is that life is given first, through the mercy and grace of God in Christ, and the religious expression follows as a result of the gift. As we love our wives, respect our husbands, honor our parents, love our neighbors and our enemies; praying for those who persecute us we stand out in a “me-first” world. In view of the gift given us in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus we live a Christ-centered life. This is totally foreign to a world that tells us to “look out for number one.” It seems, in so many cases, that those who take what they can when they can for themselves are the ones who prosper. The ones with the aggressive business strategy or the bold assertion of their rights tend to get ahead in the world while those who live for the glory of God and the sake of others seem to lead menial lives. This is because we are “storing up for ourselves treasure in heaven.” Our eyes are focused “not on what is seen, but what is unseen.” To those who live with eternity in mind, the things of this world seem almost valueless. We realize that all we can see, hear, touch, and taste will at some point pass away and so we do not cling too tightly to that which perishes; not when we have been given eternal life. Yet if there is no eternal life – “if Christ has not been raised” – and the grave really is the end, then our sacrifice is in vain and our lives amount to nothing. “We are to be pitied more than all men” because we have given up the real prize. The reality is, however, that Christ did indeed rise. Many proofs point to this historical fact, and in this reality we find hope to carry us beyond the shallowness and temporal decay of the world we live in. We are strengthened and refreshed; we are filled and empowered by the King of Glory who has given us life beyond what is seen. At the same time, we must remember that eternal life begins here and now; that the promises of God are “for this life and the next.” Therefore, we are called to be faithful with every opportunity, blessing, and challenge in order to grow and discover what this new life in Christ holds – to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Welcome to the journey of an eternal lifetime.
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