As I go through the many seasons of life, I always take time to reflect on what He has already brought me through. God is so faithful and his promises are true! Even in knowing that, it can still be frustrating waiting on what God has promised. Some seasons can be long and hard. Sometimes we look up and ask “how did I get here”? Every process serves a purpose and it is only by the grace of God that we make it through.
Grace is the source of our endurance. Without it we would die in our own sin. It is given to us by God and we only need faith in Jesus to receive it.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Grace is overridden by legalistic religion. If we hold ourselves to the standard of the law, we cancel out the grace that God has been given to us through the ministry of Jesus.
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:10-11New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ[a] we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
When we hold ourselves to the law, we are putting an unbearable yoke on ourselves. This is not an excuse to sin. We are to walk according to the Word. It does give us a chance to repent and get it right. God does not want any soul to perish. He wants us to learn to walk in good character, with integrity, and love. When we choose to walk uprightly, He promises not to withhold any good thing!
Psalm 84:11New King James Version (NKJV)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
God’s grace has many facets. We all need a different measure for different assignments. God’s grace is a gift to us to execute these assignments. We are to use the grace over our gifts to minister to others. When we use our gifts, we are being good stewards over the grace that God has given us.
1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
There have been many times in my life where I have felt incapable of completing the task before me. I’ve wanted to give up and just settle. But then I’m reminded of this scripture….
2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me
When we rely on God’s grace, the pressure to perform is gone because it is not us that is working but the grace of God within us. While resting in this scripture, there have still been times where I have felt like I’ve needed more grace. It might seem selfish, but I need all the grace that God has to offer. There are two ways that God promises to give you more:
1. Coming boldly to his throne
2. Being humble
For this reason, I consistently pray for humility!
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
He gives more grace. Thank You Jesus! I need more. God is not greedy. He is able to give us more than all that we need. He never half way blesses us with something. He is able to give as much as He wants, to who He wants, and when He wants. There are no limits! This is why all things are possible with God!
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Grace makes us strong. It is our enduring power. Grace doesn’t eliminate hardships, but causes us to get through them and teach others from them. This is what making disciples is all about. This is what Jesus commissioned us to do. This is what makes us good soldiers in the army to advance the Kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 2:1-3New King James Version (NKJV)
Be Strong in Grace
2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure[a] hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Our hardships aren’t for nothing. It is our training ground to become who He has called us to be. He promises after suffering that He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us!
1 Peter 5:10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
So we must endure to the end, relying on God’s grace knowing that without it we cannot withstand the enemy. Cry out for grace and surrender to humility. Watch God pour more grace upon you in abundance.
Father, we thank You for Your grace. Forgive us for being proud and thinking our gifts and talents are sufficient. We know that we cannot accomplish anything good on our own. We need Your grace. We need more grace. Keep us humble and help us be good stewards over the grace that You have given us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Grace is the source of our endurance. Without it we would die in our own sin. It is given to us by God and we only need faith in Jesus to receive it.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Grace is overridden by legalistic religion. If we hold ourselves to the standard of the law, we cancel out the grace that God has been given to us through the ministry of Jesus.
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:10-11New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ[a] we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
When we hold ourselves to the law, we are putting an unbearable yoke on ourselves. This is not an excuse to sin. We are to walk according to the Word. It does give us a chance to repent and get it right. God does not want any soul to perish. He wants us to learn to walk in good character, with integrity, and love. When we choose to walk uprightly, He promises not to withhold any good thing!
Psalm 84:11New King James Version (NKJV)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
God’s grace has many facets. We all need a different measure for different assignments. God’s grace is a gift to us to execute these assignments. We are to use the grace over our gifts to minister to others. When we use our gifts, we are being good stewards over the grace that God has given us.
1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
There have been many times in my life where I have felt incapable of completing the task before me. I’ve wanted to give up and just settle. But then I’m reminded of this scripture….
2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me
When we rely on God’s grace, the pressure to perform is gone because it is not us that is working but the grace of God within us. While resting in this scripture, there have still been times where I have felt like I’ve needed more grace. It might seem selfish, but I need all the grace that God has to offer. There are two ways that God promises to give you more:
1. Coming boldly to his throne
2. Being humble
For this reason, I consistently pray for humility!
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
He gives more grace. Thank You Jesus! I need more. God is not greedy. He is able to give us more than all that we need. He never half way blesses us with something. He is able to give as much as He wants, to who He wants, and when He wants. There are no limits! This is why all things are possible with God!
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Grace makes us strong. It is our enduring power. Grace doesn’t eliminate hardships, but causes us to get through them and teach others from them. This is what making disciples is all about. This is what Jesus commissioned us to do. This is what makes us good soldiers in the army to advance the Kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 2:1-3New King James Version (NKJV)
Be Strong in Grace
2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure[a] hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Our hardships aren’t for nothing. It is our training ground to become who He has called us to be. He promises after suffering that He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us!
1 Peter 5:10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
So we must endure to the end, relying on God’s grace knowing that without it we cannot withstand the enemy. Cry out for grace and surrender to humility. Watch God pour more grace upon you in abundance.
Father, we thank You for Your grace. Forgive us for being proud and thinking our gifts and talents are sufficient. We know that we cannot accomplish anything good on our own. We need Your grace. We need more grace. Keep us humble and help us be good stewards over the grace that You have given us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
RSS Feed