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July 11, 2008
The Wonder of Grace at Work
Gwen Smith
Today's Truth
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).
Friend to Friend
A preacher of the early 1900s said that when he was twelve years old, he killed one of the family geese by throwing a stone and hitting it squarely on the head. He figured his parents wouldn't notice that one of the twenty-four birds was missing and buried the dead fowl. But that evening, his sister called him aside and said, "I saw what you did. If you don't offer to do the dishes tonight, I'll tell Mother." The next morning she gave him the same warning. All that day and the next the frightened boy felt bound to do the dishes. The following morning, however, he surprised his sister by telling her it was her turn. When she quietly reminded him of what she could do, he replied, "I've already told Mother, and she has forgiven me. Now you do the dishes. I'm free again!"
We all struggle with sin simply because we are human. "Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good; not even one." (Psalm 53:3) Let's be real here. We are saved by grace, not by our goodness.
Grace is unmerited favor.
Not deserved.
Not earned.
I wrestle with sin all the time. My flesh loves to throw my spirit into a tizzy, but I know I'm not alone, and neither are you. The apostle Paul was one of the most passionate men of Christ who ever walked the earth, and even he struggled daily. He said, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good, I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:18-20)
God wants you to cast aside everything that keeps you from Him. God wants you to get right with Him! He wants to forgive you so, like that twelve-year old boy, you can say, "I'm free again!" As you invite God to change your heart, He will faithful administer grace and forgiveness. One of my favorite scriptures says this: "Those who look on him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5) Through Jesus Christ, we are seen as radiant! That, my friend, is the wonder of grace at work!!
Take a moment to quiet your heart before our holy Lord right now and then pray with me.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
You are above all and beyond all! You are mighty to save, gracious to forgive, and merciful to forget all that I've done wrong. I praise You for who You are, and thank You for the grace that is at work in my heart and in my life. Help me to cast aside everything that keeps me from You today, Lord. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
What came to your mind as you read today's devotion? Grab your journal and write about it.
Have you experienced the wonder of grace at work in your life? In what ways? Do you extend that same grace to others? Spend a few moments in prayer. Thank God for His grace.
Print or write out this verse: "Those who look on him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5) Memorize it and allow it to serve as a reminder that in Christ you are a new creation, and viewed as radiant by our holy Lord.
The Wonder of Grace at Work
Gwen Smith
Today's Truth
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).
Friend to Friend
A preacher of the early 1900s said that when he was twelve years old, he killed one of the family geese by throwing a stone and hitting it squarely on the head. He figured his parents wouldn't notice that one of the twenty-four birds was missing and buried the dead fowl. But that evening, his sister called him aside and said, "I saw what you did. If you don't offer to do the dishes tonight, I'll tell Mother." The next morning she gave him the same warning. All that day and the next the frightened boy felt bound to do the dishes. The following morning, however, he surprised his sister by telling her it was her turn. When she quietly reminded him of what she could do, he replied, "I've already told Mother, and she has forgiven me. Now you do the dishes. I'm free again!"
We all struggle with sin simply because we are human. "Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good; not even one." (Psalm 53:3) Let's be real here. We are saved by grace, not by our goodness.
Grace is unmerited favor.
Not deserved.
Not earned.
I wrestle with sin all the time. My flesh loves to throw my spirit into a tizzy, but I know I'm not alone, and neither are you. The apostle Paul was one of the most passionate men of Christ who ever walked the earth, and even he struggled daily. He said, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good, I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:18-20)
God wants you to cast aside everything that keeps you from Him. God wants you to get right with Him! He wants to forgive you so, like that twelve-year old boy, you can say, "I'm free again!" As you invite God to change your heart, He will faithful administer grace and forgiveness. One of my favorite scriptures says this: "Those who look on him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5) Through Jesus Christ, we are seen as radiant! That, my friend, is the wonder of grace at work!!
Take a moment to quiet your heart before our holy Lord right now and then pray with me.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
You are above all and beyond all! You are mighty to save, gracious to forgive, and merciful to forget all that I've done wrong. I praise You for who You are, and thank You for the grace that is at work in my heart and in my life. Help me to cast aside everything that keeps me from You today, Lord. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
What came to your mind as you read today's devotion? Grab your journal and write about it.
Have you experienced the wonder of grace at work in your life? In what ways? Do you extend that same grace to others? Spend a few moments in prayer. Thank God for His grace.
Print or write out this verse: "Those who look on him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5) Memorize it and allow it to serve as a reminder that in Christ you are a new creation, and viewed as radiant by our holy Lord.
