Yesterday I got back to Today’s Word after taking a three week break. I shared a few of the thoughts I had and lessons I learned during the break. This morning’s message will flow in that same vein. One of the things I thought and prayed about the most during my break was the grace of God. That’s what we will discuss today.
So what does this mean to you today? I will share a few thoughts under the banner of this overarching thought: God is far better to us than we could ever be to Him.
- During my break I had time to think about my life and the that of my wife. Isabella and I live an amazing life now, especially when you consider where we came from. I was raised on Welfare in Brooklyn and she was raised without public assistance in the Island of Dominica, making her situation even more dire than mine. We have come a long way. Looking back, all we can say is, ‘Thank You Lord!” We are not self-made people. We are God-made people.
- We don’t earn, nor could we ever deserve what God does for us. God blesses us by His unearned and amazing grace.
- If God only gave us what we deserved, we would all be men and women most-miserable.
- When I run into a judgmental believer, who looks down on sinners and fellow believers in Christ, I immediately know that he/she is an immature believer. You cannot be mature in Christ and judgemental at the same time.
- The closer you get to God, the less you think of yourself and the more grace you extend towards others. This happens because the closer you get to God, the more you realize how flawed you are and how much God has forgiven you of.
- The message of grace is never, “I’m better than you” or “I’m good and you are not”. The message of grace is, “We are all flawed and we all need God’s unmerited favor.”
- I wake up every morning with thanksgiving on my lips. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am nothing without God. But I also know, with that same level of confidence, that I am EVERYTHING in and with God! I am all that God called me to be, and it is only by His unearned grace.
- Millions of Christians live their lives under the Law. I was one of them. They have failed to understand and embrace the grace of God provided through our Lord Jesus the Christ. Because of this, they live their lives based on their merit and performance. While they know they could never truly earn eternal life, and they receive eternal life by faith in the finished work of Jesus, they somehow attempt to live the rest of their lives (post salvation) based on their personal performance. This is not the will of God. I am thankful to have been delivered from performance-based religion. I now get to live the life Jesus died to provide for me, and it is a life of grace. I perform, I work, but it is not really me, but rather the grace of God through me. This is a much better way to live. My prayer for you is that you fully embrace God’s grace for your life – not just for salvation, but also for the accomplishment of your divine purpose. If you do, you will get to live the life you were born to live; and believe me, it will be amazing; as amazing as God’s grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your unearned grace and my requirement to live by faith. I have so much to be thankful for. You have blessed me richly. You have been far better to me than I have been to You. I could never earn or deserve what You have done or will do in my life. All I can do it say, “Thank You!” I thank You for Your grace and favor. I thank You for your goodness and kindness. I thank You for your forgiveness and mercy. I thank You for calling me to divine purpose. I thank You for using me in spite of my flaws. I get to live an amazing life, and it all because of Your grace. The closer I get to You the more I realize how flawed I am, how much grace You have extended towards me, and how much You love me. I will enter this day, and every day, determined to honor You with my life and living. I decrease, that You may increase in me. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
