I refuse to repudiate God's grace

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine." but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20 The Message

In this passage of scripture the Apostle Paul is talking to the Galatians about the centrality of Christ in His life. He is explaining to them about how he used to do life prior to his divine meeting with Jesus, compared with his life now as a follower of Jesus. Paul goes on to say,

I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2:21 The Message

The words, 'I am not going back on that,' challenged me. How easy is it to slip back into the 'old ways' of life. There are a few questions we can ask ourselves from this passage of scripture, to analyze the degree to which we are living out of God's grace.

1. Am I trying to keep rules and working my head off to please God?

2. What is central in my life, is it my ego?

3. Is it important that I appear righteous in front of others?

4. Is it important that others have a good opinion of me?

5. Am I driven to impress God?

Some times there is not a simple answer to these questions. But rather we need to take time to reflect on each area of our life and be honest about our motives for our actions. We need to be brave and admit that our motives aren't always as pure as they seem. We need to acknowledge that our flesh has taken control in that area. We need to return to Jesus. He, and He alone is our way forward.

But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe (who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him]. Galatians 3:22 AMP

Jesus has done it all for us. Jesus has given us right-standing with God, our Heavenly Father. As Easter approaches, let's take lots and lots of time to reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice. Let's refuse to repudiate God's grace, but rather let's embrace His grace and live fully in it.

[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favour) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous]. Galatians 2:21 AMP

A God-story

If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we're given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. What we read in Scripture is, "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own." Romans 4:2-3 The Message

As I read that portion of scripture, 'Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was a turning point', I am reminded of the times when I have felt lost or that life was 'out-of-control'. In those times rather than run, I have chosen to stay and enter into what God was doing for me, albeit sometimes after a battle in my mind. I made the choice to trust God, putting my hope in Him and His promises.

Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. Romans 4:19-21 The message.

I love how this scripture says Abraham 'plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God.' For me, that is akin to immersing myself in God's presence and devouring His word, letting His love and truth completely engulf me. Without fail, every time I have 'plunged in', and there have been literally hundreds of times, I have come up strong, ready for God.  Those times have been a turning point in my life. They have been the times when I have gained more revelation of what it is to trust God. They are the times when the next chapter of God's story for my life has been written.

Questions for today, who is writing the story of your life now, is it you, or is it God? Who are you trusting to set things right, yourself or God? What are you plunging into to find answers and get strength? Is it God and His word, or is it something else? If your answers to these questions aren't God and you would like Him to be the answer, take time to talk to God now. Tell Him you want to be set right with Him, today, through what Jesus has done for you. Click on this link to find out more about deciding to follow Jesus. Let your story be God's story.

That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God. Romans 4:22-25 The Message

My inner self thirsts for You

O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is. Psalm 63:1 AMP

Today, are you in a dry and weary land where no water is? Are you scrambling around in this thing called 'life', unsure what to do next? Searching, waiting, striving, all to no avail? Is your inner self restless, thirsting for something more?

My inner self has been restless and thirsty all morning. Today I woke up later than normal due to a broken night's sleep. My day started with a short prayer, not the normal devotion time that I enjoy each morning and live my day out of. As a result the activities of the day have tumbled along, with 'some-thing' missing. That something is the peace that I get from having sat at the feet of my Heavenly Father, being in His presence, soaking in His word and talking to Him. I didn't have time to properly sit with Him this morning. Oh what a difference it makes to my day when I set the Lord continually before me.

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety, ... You will show me the path of life' in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:8, 9, 11 AMP

Question for today, what is your inner self thirsting for? Where have you set God in your life? If you are feeling like I was, in desperate need of some time sitting in the presence of God, why not ask God to help you make that time available? He is listening and He will give you what you need.

In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self.... For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognises [only] at a distance. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever - forsake not the works of your own hands. Psalm 138:3, 6-8 AMP

Many plans

Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purposes for him that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 AMP

This morning, it was once again time to lay down my plans and submit to God's purposes for me. I had become increasing irritated over the past couple of days as 'my' schedule slipped, and then slipped again. Now it is a complete landslide! Ever so gently last night the Holy Spirit started to speak to me in among my frustration, reminding me that God is sovereign, and that He has it all under control. Everything will be sorted out, in God's timing, not mine.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMP

So this morning I repented. Repented of trying to tell the Maker what and how to make.

Woe to him who strives with his Maker! - a worthless piece of broken pottery among other pieces equally worthless [and yet presuming to strive with his Maker]! Shall the clay say to him who fashions it, What do you think you are making? or, Your work has no handles? Isaiah 45:9 AMP

My plan is still in 'landslide', but it doesn't matter anymore, as I have now repented and realigned myself with God, the all knowing, all seeing, creator of the universe. 

I am the Lord, and there is no one else; there is no God besides me. I will gird and arm you, though you have not known Me. That men may know from the east and the rising of the son and from the west and the setting of the sun that there is no God besides Me. I am the Lord, and no one else [is He]. I form the light and create darkness, I make peace [national well-being] and I create [physical] evil [calamity]; I am the Lord, Who does all these things. Isaiah 45:5-7 AMP

The big challenge is to stay aligned with God, and with His purposes of salvation of all the earth. To stay connected to His plan and be a vessel for His purposes.

Question for today, do you have plans in your mind that don't seem to running to schedule? When was the last time you 'checked in' with God to ensure that your plans line up with His purposes for you? If it has been a little while, why not take time today to sit and surrender your plans to God, and wait for His response. He always has the best plan, He created us and loves us.

Let fall in showers, you heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness [the pure, spiritual, heaven-born possibilities that have their foundation in the holy being of God]; let the earth open, and let them [skies and earth] sprout forth salvation, and let righteousness germinate and spring up [as plants do] together; I the Lord have created it. Isaiah 45:8 AMP

I sent you Timothy

For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches.
1 Corinthians 4:17 AMP

Do you have a 'Timothy' in your life? Someone that God has sent into your life to help you learn more about living Christ's way. For me, God bought such people into my life before I even knew I needed them! I thank God for the many people, in all spheres of my life, that I have learnt so much from. It is such a reminder of the importance of staying connected with people, especially in the tough times. Isolation is not normally conducive to gaining victory.

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 AMP

But not only have I learnt much from the divinely appointed personal relationships in my life, but I have also learnt much from books I have read. Books, especially about Christian women who have experienced great trials. Women who have put their complete trust in God and come through the trial stronger and more in love with God than ever. Some of these books I have read with my daughter, including the biographies of Isabel Kuhn, Amy Carmichael and Elizabeth Elliot. We have both enjoyed seeing how God worked in miraculous ways during very traumatic circumstances in each of their lives, and reading how they stood firm in their faith, often alone with no-one else to deliver them except God. It is by those women writing letters, journals and books, that their life stories have been recorded and now provide much encouragement to those who read them. They remind us that God has a purpose for each of our lives, and that He does work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His design and purpose.

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. [It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 AMP

Question for today, do you have 'Timothy's' in your life, either via personal relationship, book, podcast, blog etc? If not, I would like to encourage you today to ask God to bring those people into your life, through whatever method He so chooses. When the 'Timothy's' do appear, open your heart and listen and receive all they have to teach you. They are an important part of the journey God has you on.

And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, to strengthen and establish and to exhort and comfort and encourage you in your faith, 

1 Thessalonians 3:2 AMP

The Lord Who was on our side

If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side - now may Israel say - If it has not been the Lord Who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they would have quickly swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us and swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then the proud waters would have gone over us. Psalm 124:1-3 AMP

Have you ever said to yourself, 'If it had not been for the Lord... ?' There are many many times in my life that I can reflect back on and say, 'If it had not been for the Lord we would have been in much worse shape that we are now.' His timing has always been perfect, whether is was the timing of our daughter's brain surgery, divine appointments with people or the day of my salvation. God has an appointed time for everything, including the things that we are waiting for. Here is what God said to Sarah when she was waiting to have a child.

Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes around, I will return to you and Sarah shall have borne a son. Genesis 18:14 AMP

While we wait for God's appointed time, it is good to remind ourselves that the Lord is on our side. It is good to take time to remember all the victories, starting with salvation and eternal life, that He, in His grace, has given us. 

What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? Romans 8:31-32 AMP

So today I want to encourage you (and me!) that God is on our side. We have so much to be grateful for to God, starting with the promise of seeing God face to face when we get to heaven. Then moving on to the times in our lives when He has made a way, when there seemed to be no way out or no way through a circumstance.

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength or resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP

This is one of my favourite scriptures. I find it particularly helpful in times of desperation to replace the 'you' with my name, and declare it out loud, as loud as possible, to remind myself that God is faithful and God can be trusted and He will make a way.

Question for today, do you know in your heart that the Lord is on your side? If not, meditate on these scriptures I have shared today (perhaps put your name in the scriptures and shout them out). Take time to remind yourself of what the Lord has done for you, and the promises He has for your life. He is on your side. Do not lose heart.

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time, and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. Galatians 6:9 AMP

Inheritance

And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favour]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God' set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul). Acts 20:32 AMP

Today was my Grandmother's funeral. She was 98 and had lived a full life. A life full of love, full of kindness and full of challenges. As I prepared something to share at her funeral I thought about all the great character traits I have inherited from her, including strength and courage. She was an amazingly kind and gracious woman.

My mind then wandered to thoughts of the inheritance we have in Jesus, and what I have inherited from Him - the gift of eternal life.

[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. 1 Peter 1:4-5 AMP 

My grandmother is now there, in that place reserved for her in heaven. She is living out her inheritance right now. As The Message Bible says, 'What a God we have!'

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven - and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all - life healed and whole. 1 Peter 1:3-5 The Message

In Jesus we have a future, a future that never ends. A future of a life healed and whole. What a God we have!

Question, when was the last time that you took time to sit and contemplate your future? Your eternal future? Your inheritance in Jesus? Why not take some time to do exactly that today and live to praise Him.

In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, so that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him and been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory! Ephesians 1:11-12 AMP