37 Days – Grace Rises to the Occasion

Pastor Randy’s devotional:

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I would like conclude our season of prayer with an encouragement for you. I was recently talking with a friend of mine, and we got into a serious discussion about our faith. Specifically, we were discussing the Coptic Christians in the Middle East who are being beheaded for their faith. The question was, “So what would you do if you were faced with that situation? Would you deny Christ, knowing you were just deceiving your persecutors to get out of this gruesome death? Would you stand strong and face it?” Now, I know what the right answer is. “I would never deny Christ, and I would gladly die a martyr’s death.” OK. So that’s the right answer. But I believe there is a very real grace of God that actually allows those men to face gruesome death. I believe grace rises to the occasion.

I don’t believe David was ready or able to face Goliath in his own strength. God’s grace in him rose to that occasion. I don’t believe Gideon was especially brave and skilled at leading a rebellion. God’s grace rose up in him to do what he could otherwise have never done. And I believe God will call you and me into situations this year that are so far over our heads—so beyond our skill and capacity—and yet sufficient grace will be available if we don’t blink. God’s calling is always beyond our ability. Many do not step into their calling because they feel so inadequate. They . . . we . . . I feel weak and unfit for the task. In those times, we can count on the grace of God rising to the occasion.

Let’s prepare now for those opportunities. Let fuel our faith now so that we will trust that grace to rise. If you show up, grace will show up. We will take our inheritance in 2018 by the grace of God. And, His grace is sufficient!

February 6^th Prayer:
Great and Mighty God…Your grace is sufficient for me. Your strength is made perfect when my weakness and inadequacy is exposed. I anticipate Your power and enablement, that goes beyond my talent and gifts, to enable me to do far beyond what I could ever ask or think. Help me to not shrink back from any opportunity. By the grace of God, I am what I am. Thank You for Your sufficient grace . . . In Jesus’ name!

My thoughts:
Weakness, we don’t talk about it, we don’t want to acknowledge it, but it is very real none the less.  Each and every one of us will face challenges in our life that break us, cause us to tremble in fear and fell powerless.  These are the times when we must realize that God is our provider, God is our comfort, God is our strength and God is authority over all things.  God’s grace is sufficient for anything that we face.  Not some things, not the easy things, not the life or death things, but everything.  You cannot bring something to the throne of God that is beyond His ability to overcome. 

The key is to realize that in our flesh we are weak, we are frail, we are fearful and shaken; then to realize that we belong to the supreme authority over all things.  Once this realization sets in, dealing with our suffering, our fears, our weakness becomes manageable and conquerable.  The Lord is my strength, whom shall I fear?  No one and nothing.

Be Blessed,

Rich

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Can you Love Them

They justify their position by claiming “Political Correctness” or “I don’t want to offend others” or “they’re entitled to their opinion”.  I’m tired of coddling to the feelings and sensitivities of others, who outright, blatantly disregard the reality that they are living outside of God’s will.  What do you think?  If someone is heading the wrong direction down a one way street with a blindfold on and a woman is pushing a stroller out into that very same street less than 50 feet away, shouldn’t someone tell the person they are wrong for doing so?  Aren’t we better to tell them they are making a mistake, than to let them continue in their path and destroy not only their life, but those around them?

The problem I am faced with, though, is how to love them, while still telling them their actions are going to bring harm.  When I say the word love, most think of an emotional feeling of kindness, gentleness and warm hearted affection.  We are caught up in the human perspective of love as a word to describe our emotional condition when we think about another person.  But is love a verb or a noun?  Is it something you feel towards another or is it something you have.  Well, grammatically it is both, based on how we use it.  (eg. The love he has for her is immeasurable. (n)   He loves her with all of his heart. (v)) 

So many today are proposing tolerance of other’s feelings, choices and decisions.  I have heard no less than 10 times this week, “You need to hate the sin, but love the sinner.”  Really?  Who says?  Well, God says in His scriptures; “Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”  (Jude 1:23)  Can we truly love with God’s love as called out in Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us..”  I have to remind myself daily that God loves me unconditionally, that despite my iniquities and my transgressions, His love is unchanging.  But, I find this nearly impossible to live out.

I am angered by the actions of some; I am disgusted by the actions of others; I am overwhelmed by the evil in this world, that is condoned and accepted.  We have come to a point in our existence where evil has become the norm and those that call it out are seen as the radical minority.  Is this visible to the rest of you, or is it just me?  I want to help others realize they are partaking in evil, but I am shunned for “judging them” or “forcing my views on them” or “being intolerant”.  Well, so be it.  I am intolerant of watching those that I know and love, destroy their eternal life because they want to selfishly pursue the pleasures of today.  Pursuing the wickedness of this world, even for a moment will lead to destruction. 

People (including me) realize that their actions are outside of God’s righteousness, yet they continue to dwell therein.  Choices are made that it is worth it to turn from God and pursue our own desire, will and ambitions in life.  This is sin upon sin.  It is stated that we are all sinners, and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and by God’s grace we are forgiven and washed clean.  Yet, Romans 1:18 tells us; “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”  When we know we are sinning against God and continue to do it anyways, we are suppressing His truth and stepping outside of His blessings.  Is God’s grace sufficient then for our sins, the answer is unequivocally yes as stated in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “…“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”.  But, it requires a repentant heart and for you to turn from your sinful actions. 

I believe this is the state of the world today.  We know right from wrong, good from evil; yet still, in knowing that, we are choosing to pursue evil, because it makes us happy temporarily.  This demonstrates the character of our true self-centeredness and the desires of our heart.  For evil does not enter into one’s heart from outside, but comes from within; Mark 7:19-23, “…“That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” 

Do you not see how far we have fallen from God’s plan for our lives?   How then can we claim to be walking with the Lord; if indeed we are intently disregarding His commandments and His will for our life?  We are blinded by our own lies and perception that we are “good enough” in our walk, and that God will forgive anything we do.  I fear for us as a people, that we believe we are heaven bound, yet continuing to live in our sinful nature would indicate otherwise.  I truly love you all, and want that none of you are blinded by the worldly passion and desire, but seek the Lord in all things.  For He alone is good, and nothing else in this world is. 

Finding Me - Day 18

October 2, 2014

I knew I shouldn’t have done it, but once it’s done, how can I take it back.  The reality is nobody saw it anyway, so what difference does it make, nobody got hurt and to be honest it’s none of their business anyway.  Yes, I’m guilty; and so are you.  Oh sure, I can try to justify my actions and make excuses for why I do certain things.  The truth will always be upon my heart and mind though, and that starts to pile up after a while.  Then comes the shame, the guilt, the feelings of unworthiness.  If you are like me, you can spend hours in self- judgment and prosecution.

The act is never as large as the impact.  I’m not talking about hurting others, either.  The smallest act of unrighteousness has the potential to weigh upon our mind in such a way that we convince ourselves that we are broken, worthless and discarded.  There is an old cliché` that I want you to think on today.  It’s been said in many different ways, but it’s none the less truthful in every sense.  “Character is not who they perceive you to be, it is who you are when no one is looking, when you are alone with your Creator.”  This week I was reminded that there are times when it is just me and God.  For there is no place I can go where He is not and He sees all things, even the unspoken and unfulfilled desires of my heart (Psalm 139:7)

Day 18: Guilty as Charged
“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” – Romans 8:33-34

It’s so easy to fall into the lie that our actions will separate us from Him. This is Satan’s way of convincing us that we aren’t worthy of God’s love, of salvation and eternity.  I strongly advise you to rebuke these thoughts and feelings.  Satan will consistently point out to us our shortcomings, our weaknesses and faults, with a judgment that indicts and condemns.  His strength comes from our belief that we must earn God’s love, when in reality we need only accept it.  For you see God put only one condition on His love and salvation – “Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.”

Do not believe the world that tells you that you are unworthy of God’s grace.  There is no greater lie from the enemy.  The world will call you a hypocrite, and shame you into disgrace.  For, the world is the devil’s playground and he is fully aware of your weaknesses and will exploit them at all cost.  Stand firm then in knowing that you are a child of God; forgiven, sanctified and made whole through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His blood atoned from your sins, and you have been made whole, despite your feelings of inadequacy.  He cannot provide another path for salvation; for Jesus Christ has provided the redemption for all sin, not just some. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us that “My grace is sufficient …” 

Prayer:
Father,
You alone are capable of loving me despite my weakness.  You have provided a path for my salvation, and have given me the sufficient grace to overcome my weakness and sinful nature.  I stand firm in my faith that Your love is unwavering, unfailing, immutable and everlasting.  I know I have sinned against You and I am not worthy of eternity with You.  I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, and it is upon His death, burial and resurrection that I am made whole and am able to enter into Your presence.  Thank You for providing a way for my iniquities to be washed clean.     – Amen

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