Grace For Living

Grace For Living
By John Woodward
May 11, 1998

"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever" (2 Peter 3:18). The grace of God is the wonderful agency whereby Christ expresses His life through the believer. Paul's amazing missionary work was accomplished because he was energized by God's grace
(1 Cor 15:10). Grace for Christian living is our lifeline!

How do we let God's powerful grace flow through our lives?

1. We must humble ourselves. We confess our inability to accomplish God's will in our own strength. "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble'. . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:6,10).

2. We must fully depend on Christ. As Paul affirmed, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13).

3. We must offer our bodies to God as vessels of His life. "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Rom 6:13).

These principles are also seen in the apostle Peter's experiences. He said to Jesus, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Matt 26:33,34). After Peter's denials, he went out and wept bitterly. His self confidence was shattered. After being forgiven and reassured by the risen Christ, Peter was prepared to be empowered by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Simon became a "rock" (Cephas) in the foundation of the church by God's grace (John 1:42; Eph 2:20).

This grace perspective needs daily reinforcement. In Lifetime Guarantee, Dr. Bill Gillham writes, " There is one thing all believers can do equally well as we begin each day. That is to offer all that we are to Christ to express His life through us, to use us to do His will. Our ability to do this is not related to how many spiritual gifts we have, or our talent, IQ, appearance, wealth, charisma, wisdom, or circumstances . . . The believer who suffers great trial due to political persecution, marital stress, and so on finds that God simply makes greater grace available to him to allow Christ to handle it through him." (p. 227).

Our Father, thank you that Your grace is sufficient to equip us to live for You. Keep us aware of our need to depend on Your resources as we daily surrender to Your perfect will. In Christ's name we pray, amen

JBW

May 11, '98

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Grace Notes editor - Dr. John Woodward,
Grace Fellowship International.
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