The Grace of a Day

I had the privilege of getting to attend the Southern Baptist Convention in Baltimore, Maryland last week, and from there my family and I traveled to New York City. We returned home early Tuesday morning, and began making preparations to return to normal life. We were greeted by the excited meowing of our cat, Gandalf, as we entered the house. He then proceeded to pester me for attention.

We got Gandalf when he was a kitten. Although he was several weeks old, he hadn’t had much human contact and had a bit of a wild streak. In order to tame him, I would hold him for long periods of time. This level of attention forged a bond between him and me that he never outgrew. Anytime we would go away for an extended period, I was certain to find him happy to see me and desperate for my attention.

I could always count on him to stalk me for days (often weeks) after every trip. If I sat down, he would sit near me (or on me). If I got up and went to the next room, he would follow me. He would lay by me when I went to bed, and get up when I got up. If I was able to escape his constant presence, he would begin to meow in a deep, mournful way that seemed to say, “Where are you? I’m lonely.”

Over the course of the last twelve years, this pattern had been repeated on numerous occasions. Gandalf was most affectionate the days following a return from an absence. There would be days of nudging and nuzzling and stalking. During a normal day, it wouldn’t be unusual for Gandalf to rub his face against my hand or leg once or twice. Experts say this behavior is a cat’s way of marking the object they are rubbing as their own. Yet in the days after I had returned from a trip, he would rub against me countless times. I always understood it to mean, “Mine! Mine! Mine! Now you can’t leave again.”

Although we had affection for one another, we didn’t always get along. Gandalf was, after all, a cat. He wanted attention when he wanted it. He bit me on more than one occasion because my feet crowded “his space” on my bed. Gandalf didn’t meow much on a normal day, unless he wanted food or snacks. But when he did meow, he just wouldn’t quit. I never enjoyed his nagging.

When we returned home Tuesday, nothing surprised me about Gandalf’s behavior. The noise, the stalking, the rubbing—it was all normal. He even kept with tradition and pestered me to pet him while I was trying to go to sleep (which I obliged because I was, after all, happy to see him too). When I got ready to leave for work Wednesday morning, there he was meowing in my shadow as he traced my steps from room to room. As I closed the door, I imagined he would pass the long day napping as he awaited our return.

We returned home from church a little later than usual. Sophia sprang into the house as I opened the door blazing past a sleeping Gandalf. But something wasn’t quite right. He didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. He was still as a stone. And I knew. I hoped I was wrong, but I knew. He was gone. His body was cold and stiff to the touch. Gone. Just gone. No notice, no warning. As full of life and energy as a 12 year-old cat can be in the morning, and 12 hours later he was gone.

As I reflected on our time together, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Why now?” Why couldn’t he have lasted a little longer? But as I thought about it, I realized God had given me (and Gandalf) a day. A day to renew our affections. A day to share. Had I realized that Tuesday would be our last day together, a weary traveler would have found obsessed cat’s nagging less annoying. I would have lingered a little longer while scratching him behind the ears. And in that realization, I knew the grace of a day. Reflecting on that day, I have learned a few things:

1. Time is short. People (almost) always assume they have more time. We plan for futures we are not promised.

2. Make the most of every day. Yesterday is gone. We might be left with good memories or regrets, but we can’t change the past. Tomorrow isn’t promised. Live today like it is the most important day of your life.

3. There is no shame in crying. Whether tears of joy or tears of sorrow, there is no shame in shedding tears.

4. Enjoy it while it lasts. The circumstances of our lives are always changing. The old saying warns, “Don’t blink or you might miss it.”  I was reminded by a man recently to make the most of Sophia’s childhood, because it would pass before I realized it.

5. God’s grace is sufficient for all our needs. Whether we are dealing with loss—of a family pet, a family member, a job, etc., He is enough. He is even enough when we are dealing with the outpouring of his favor. If our hopes and fears are anchored in Christ, we have more than we can ever need.

 

Not as Our Folly Deserves

"Therefore, [Jesus] is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them" (Heb. 7:25, HCSB).

I was reminded of this truth as I finished the book of Job today. Job's friends are ordered by God to take a sacrifice to Job, which he would offer up on their behalf with prayer. God told them, "Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his prayer and not deal with you as your folly deserves. For you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has" (Job 42:8, HCSB).

As this verse seems to indicate, Job points to the work of Christ. As intercessor, Job would mediate between his friends and God. It was not a role assumed by Job, but one appointed to him. If his friends obeyed the Lord, Job would then pray for them. If Job prayed for them, then God would forgive them.

Forgiveness is defined with a beautiful word picture in Job 42:8. God says, "I . . . will not deal with you as your folly deserves." Stop. Reread that description. Let it bounce around in your head a few times. Say it out loud. Repeat it. Allow your heart to open to it and let it in.

How many times have you wished your foolishness would be overlooked by the Lord? If you are like me, it is probably as many as acts of foolishness of which you are aware.

How do we find such forgiveness? Bulls and Rams? No, the blood of bulls and goats could get the job done (see Hebrews 10:4). We need someone to mediate for us. Paul tells us, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human" (1 Tim. 2:5, HCSB). The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is both our priest and sacrifice (see Hebrews 9:12-10:14).

In essence, we live because we were obedient to the Word and trusted Christ, and now he intercedes on our behalf. Because Jesus intercedes for us, the Father will not treat us as our folly deserves. What a precious promise that is.

An Undivided Mind

"Teach me Your way, Yahweh, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name. I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God, and I will honor Your name forever" (Ps. 86:11-12, HCSB).

Do you ever feel like your mind is divided in its loyalties? Do you feel the necessity of this prayer? I find myself in constant need of instruction. It feels as if I forget a lesson nearly as quickly as I learn it. I have to be remind again and again. Do you ever feel that way?

The psalmist recognizes that he personally needs to be instructed by God if he is to live God's truth. He knows that God must give him an undivided heart. The psalmist is powerless to heal the divide within. It will take an act of God to bring his loyalties into a singular focus.

What is truly impressive in this prayer is that the psalmist wants an undivided mind so that he may fear the Lord. Before you cue the thunder sound effects, realize that when the Bible speaks of fear of the Lord, it focuses more on reverence and less on terror. Fear of the Lord means that we hate evil (Prov. 8:13). It means that we understand the God is holy, and in that holiness he hates sin.

God's very nature detests sin. If I asked you to eat a worm, you might be appalled. That feeling of revulsion gives you a slight glimmer of understanding when it comes to understanding how the Holy One views sin. In his holiness, God acts as the Righteous Judge, condemning all evil. Sin then becomes an act of treason against a holy God.

As we experience the love of God, through his gracious mercy, we come to hate sin because it offends our loving Father. In reverence, we seek to put off all sin because it is an affront to the righteous nature of God, who sent his Son to die in our place and pay our sin debt. When our allegiance is torn, so that we do not fear God as we should, we dishonor Christ's sacrifice.

As a person who struggles with sin (so that  I find myself doing the evil I hate, while yearning to do good), I find this prayer necessary. Apart from the Spirit's work in my life, I would not live God's truth. If the Spirit was not working in me to will and do the work of God (see Phil. 1:13), I would not desire to do the will of God. So I pray, "Lord, give me an undivided mind to fear Your name."

A Different Approach

How do you forgive someone when they betray you? When they hurt you? Or do any number of hurtful things to you? These questions aren't easy to answer. We know the biblical answer is to forgive, but how do we accomplish it? I'm still searching for the definitive answer, but I think we can come at it from a different approach.

We need to approach the process of forgiveness by being rooted in our identity. In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul sets a standard for church which is helpful for us as followers of Christ. The standard says, recognize who you are and live accordingly.

Colossians 3:12 describes us as a "chosen people," "holy," and "dearly loved." The expression, "chosen" tends to make many Christians bristle. They don't like the thought of election (predestination), because they think it violates human freedom and smacks of unfairness. However, the Bible teaches that God chose a people for himself, and that we, as Christ's followers, are chosen by God.

Election shouldn't freak us out. It should encourage us. It means that God knew us before he formed us, that he loved us before he made us, that he has a purpose for our existence, and that he has numbered our days. It means God picked us, but not because we were special or perfect or impressive. He picked us because he loved us, he pursued us because he picked us, and he set us apart for his special purposes.

He has made us holy. Holy, in this context, refers to us being set apart. We are God's special possession. He delights in us. We are objects of his love. In fact, Paul says we are dearly loved. Let that sink in. God love you dearly.

We are told to approach forgiveness in the right "garments." Like the Joseph, in the Old Testament, we are given a "coat of many colors.' His was a robe that expressed his Father's delight in him. Ours is a character that reflects our Father's character. We are to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience. In short, we are to treat others as God has treated us.

In Colossians 3:13, we are told to bear with and forgive those who hurt us. We are called to endure the grating personalities of others, and meet them with grace. We are to forgive "whatever grievances" we might have, and we are to forgive as the Lord forgave us. It is a complete, reconciling forgiveness.

The thread that holds it all together is love. Colossians 3:14, tells us to cover over all our other qualities with love. It is the bond for perfect peace. The walk of love is a different approach, but it is the only one that will lead to lasting peace.

How has forgiveness transformed your life? If it hasn't already, are you willing to let it transform you life now?

A Brief Meditation of God's Grace

Here is something worthy of meditation:

But when the goodness of God and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).

I recently heard someone say, "Mercy is us not getting what we deserve." I don't know where that line originated, but I found it intriguing. Paul states pretty much the same thing here. We were saved, not by our works of righteousness, but "according to His mercy." In spite of all of our sin, God still had compassion on us.

This is all an act of God's grace. Every blessing that accompanies new life is ours in Christ Jesus. He has bound us to himself in love, and he will not let us go. In Christ, the goodness of God is manifest. His love has been demonstrated. Now, it must be embraced.

He has made us, who believe, new creations. We are justified before God. We are washed of our sin by the Holy Spirit. We are heirs with hope of eternal life. Grace has been shown to us in abundance, and that is something to think about.

Assume the Best

Whenever you have a group of people working together there is going to be some tension. Tension isn't always a bad thing. If handled properly, tension can bring about growth. However, if not handled properly tension can cause needless pain.

James, the brother of Jesus and a pastor in the early church, warned, "My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness" (James 1:19-20, HCSB).

The apostle Paul has some words of warning as well. He states, "[Love] does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs" (1 Cor. 13:5). He also states, "For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want; there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder" (2 Cor. 12:20). Again, Paul states, "All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice" (Eph. 4:31).

The temptation in life is to assume the worse in others. We question their motives, we read into their words, and we suspect their character. However, we want them to trust our motives, correctly interpret our words, and recognize our characters. Differences of opinions or approaches often lead to conflict because we misunderstand one another.

Although the solution is simple, it isn't always easy. Paul encourages, "And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ" (Eph. 4:32). Jesus said, "Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them--this is the Law and Prophets" (Matt. 7:12).

The best course of action when working with others is to assume the best.  Even though Jesus knew Judas's heart, he didn't treat him differently. Jesus knew Judas was a thief, yet Jesus still allowed him to be the treasurer.  He treated Judas with loving kindness. He even washed Judas's feet. It is impossible for us to know what is in other peoples hearts, so we need to trust them. Even if they do things differently than we would, or say things in a way that rub us the wrong way. We need to give them the benefit of the doubt.

In the long run, it isn't about us. It is about the glory of God. As believers, we all strive in our own way to glorify God. Sometimes, we succeed. Sometimes, we fail. At all times, we seek grace. Therefore, at all times we must give grace. Unless they prove otherwise, we must always assume that those around us are striving to glorify God, as well.  If we approach the task of working with others for the glory of God in humility and love,  everything else can be worked out.

It's Not About Us

"For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.  For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned?  My glory I will not give to another" (Isa. 48:9-11, ESV).

It is difficult for most of us to hear words like this and not think the worst.  In this passage, God is telling Israel it isn't about them.  And by extension, he is telling us that it is not about us either. 

When Abraham was called out of Ur, it wasn't about him.  When God chose Jacob over Esau, it wasn't about Jacob.  It was about God.  God created a universe through which, in which, and to which he would display his glory.  He formed, for his own purposes, mankind (male and female) to bear his image.  He did not do this because it had to be done.  He did it because he wanted to do it.  So when he showed favor to Noah or Abraham or Jacob or David, it was because the choice pleased him by fulfilling his purpose.

In these verses, we see God's chief purpose-that his name be honored.  Because he promised to make Israel into a great nation, he does so.  He also restrains his anger, preserving a remnant, to keep his name from being profaned.  The concept of God's name being profaned means that his character is called into question.  God will not have his character questioned.

What he says he will do, he will do.  There is no weakness in God.  He is completely able to do all that he says he will do.  There is no gap in his knowledge, and no flaw in his wisdom.  He is holy, righteous, and just.  His word is trustworthy and true.  When his character is called into question by sinful humanity it is a great affront to his character.

It should not surprise us, nor shock us that God functions, primarily, to preserve his name.  God is perfect.  He cannot put anything above himself, or he would be guilty of idolatry.  This he cannot do.  He is not a megalomaniac.  He isn't obsessed with himself, like some vanity crazed narcissist.  God's self-love is holy and righteous.

Thus, these verses hint at the answer to the question: "How could God love a sinner like me?".  These verses tell us that God can love sinners like us, because that is who he is.  It also tells us that God rescues sinners like us, so that his name might be glorified.  It is grace offered freely, to undeserving wretches like us.  We owe our allegiance to God because he made us, and yet, apart from Christ we rebelled against him.  We owe him the deepest gratitude, because he ransomed us from our sin debt, yet most of us act as if he owed it to us.

When we love ourselves, so that we press for our interests above others, we think in natural.  We shrug off any guilt and develop elaborate explanations as to why it is right that we should seek our own preferences.  If someone questions our character or accuses of lying, we instantly try to defend ourselves.  We feel justified in our defensive maneuvers.  With all our sins and shortcomings, we find ourselves easily offended when someone questions our character or motives or trustworthiness.  But we seem equally offended that God would be offended when sinful human beings call his holy character into question.

We shouldn't be offended by the truth that salvation isn't about us.  It is about the One with the power to create us, the power to sustain us, and the power to redeem us.  Jesus died for us, because it was his Father's will that he take our place.  The Father loves us, because it is his will to do so.  He sent his Son to die in our place because it manifested his glory to all creation.  In Christ, we glimpse, the height, depth, width, and breadth of God's love and graciousness.  Because God's chief end is to glorify his name, we live to glorify his name, as well.

Leave Them with Regret

"And he departed with no one's regret" (2 Chr. 21:20b).

These are chilling words.  How bad does a person have to be if no one regrets their death?  I realize that not regretting someone's death and rejoicing at their death are two different things, but I doubt that they are that different.

Jehoram, king of Judah, executed his brothers (and probably some of his cousins) when he ascended his throne (2 Chr. 21:4).  He followed "the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done" (2 Chr. 21:6).  He extended pagan worship throughout the kingdom of Judah, angering the Lord.

Because of Jehoram's great wickedness, God sent a plague on the people, he stirred up the anger of the Philistines against Judah, and struck Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.  His death was slow and painful.  His power and wealth were diminished. In spite of all his pain and suffering, no one cared.

I can't imagine being such a horrible human being that no one grieved my passing.  I would like to believe that my death would be mourned by several (for one because they deemed it untimely, and two because they thought I was a descent fellow).  Of course, I don't really want find out who all would come to my funeral.

As I am thinking about this passage, it occurs to me that wisdom dictates that we choose the best course in which to walk.  Jehoram was very foolish. There was no reason for him to execute his brothers, to extend false worship, etc.  It also teaches me that a life devoted to ignoring God will not be remembered in the long run.

If you want to be remembered, don't devote yourself to self-veneration.  Labor for the glory of God and the good of your neighbor.  People always remember kind people. Live in such a way that you leave people with regret over your loss.

To Forgive, or Not to Forgive

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flikr/45457114/in/photostream/

Sometimes I feel like an onion--all wrapped up in layers.  It's kind of like when Shrek tries to explain life as an ogre to Donkey. Ogres have layers; onions have layers.  People have layers, too (and so does cake).

Have you ever been in a situation where it feels like all your layers have been pulled back, and you have nothing left to offer?  Maybe you have had all of the more pleasant layers pulled back and all that is left is the anger layer?  You feel tense.  Your ready for a fight.  You can just see a certain person, and your blood pressure starts to rocket.  Does that sound like your experience?

If you find yourself peeled back to the anger layer, you are serious trouble.  It means that you a flirting with unforgiveness.  Actually, it is more than flirting, you're, most likely, married to it.  The grudge you are nursing against that particular individual or group or place delights you in some way.  As you nurture your anger, it deceives you into believing that you are empowered by it.

But the person most injured by your anger is not the other person.  It's you.  Once, I passed a sign that read, "Being angry with someone else is like drinking poison and waiting for them to die."  I believed it then, and I still believe it.  However, that doesn't mean I always practice it.

My default mode, when wounded, is to retreat to anger.  If a person hurts me emotionally or otherwise (intentionally or unintentionally), I get mad.  In fact, when I get physically injured, my first reaction is usually anger.  I'm hardwired that way I guess.  Although, I am not trying to excuse it.  Harboring anger in our hearts is a dangerous thing.  Anger kills.  Haven't you ever heard of a crime of passion?

When I am not careful, I find myself nursing anger in my heart.  The wound doesn't have to be life threating to trigger my anger.  It can be a real or perceived slight.  I don't want to come off sounding like a hothead.  I can take a lot before I reach my boiling point, but when I do it is hard for me to simmer down.

James warns, "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness God requires" (James 1:20).  Instead we are to cultivate meekness.  We should be gentle of heart.  As believers in Christ, we are the recipients  of tremendous grace.  We are freely forgiven of our treason against God, and adopted into his family.  We are all sinners in need of grace.  We all acted in terrible ways toward our holy and merciful God, yet, in love, he offered us peace and fellowship.

In light of this reality, we should seek to extend the same courtesy to those who have offended us.  We should meet their hurtful ways with loving concern.  We should offer them forgiveness, free and without condition.  We should extend to them grace.  You might say, "Wait a minute.  They don't deserve my forgiveness!"  To which, I would respond, "Duh. That is why we call it 'grace.'"  Grace cannot be earned.

When we fail to forgive it reflects a heart that does not understand grace.  Most often, a heart does not understand grace, because it believes itself to have sufficient merit to earn God's favor.  The owner of an unforgiving heart is the slave of a proud heart.

More importantly, when we fail to forgive we come under God's judgment.  Jesus warns, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15).  You may be saying, "But wait, isn't that works salvation?".  It might sound that way, if we take it out of it's context.  This quote comes from Matthew 5-7, often called the Sermon on the Mount.  The sermon instructs those who follow Jesus to start off by acknowledging their spiritual poverty.  They must realize that they have no righteousness of their own; they must trust God to provide it.

As recipients of God's grace, they should be quick to dispense grace.  Who can swim in the sea of forgiveness, and begrudge someone else such joy?  Only those who have never truly experienced the liberating joy of forgiveness can continually refuse to extend forgiveness to others.  This is the truth Jesus is trying to communicate with his warning.  To be forgiven is to be forgiving; to be unforgiving is to be unforgiven.

What do we do when we find ourselves unwilling to forgive?

• We need to assess the state of our heart.  Have we turned from our sin, to the living God, through Jesus Christ? If no, we need to repent and place our faith in Christ, and then ask him for the strength to forgive.  If yes, then we need to repent of our hardheartedness.  

• We need to mediate on the grace that saves us.  God was super-abundantly gracious toward us.  We have to spend time (lots of time) carefully thinking about God's grace, as revealed in Jesus.  

• We have to remind ourselves (repeatedly) that we are sinners who wound others.  By walking in their shoes, we help to prevent our heart from growing prideful.

• We need to do things to show them we love them even when we don't "feel" like it.  The kind of love that pleases God is not primarily an emotion.  It is action oriented.  Show kindness to your (former) "enemies."  When you do, you're imitating God.

If we will honor the Lord in this way, we can be sure that the Spirit is going to peel back the anger layer, and reveal a tender, merciful layer.  That's the Jesus layer.  Has the Jesus layer been revealed in you, yet?  What are some of the ways you overcome unforgivenness?

He Will Uphold His People

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand" (Ps. 37:23-24, ESV).

I have known many who have felt uncomfortable with the thought that God directs our lives.  It strikes at the very heart of human autonomy.  We want absolute freedom to think and do as we please, but such freedom doesn't exist in the human experience.  No one picks their parents, the day of their birth, the color of their eyes or hair.  None of us picked where we would be born, where we would attend school, or the opportunities that we would have.

We didn't have absolute freedom in our past, we don't have it in our present, and we will never have it in our future.  There are so many forces outside of our control in life that we often have to change our minds.  But God isn't driven along by outside forces.  He never has to change his mind.  As David reminds, he has established our steps.

When we can have confidence in the reality that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, the Lord will keep us from falling to our destruction.  He will uphold us in his grace and mercy.  The knowledge that God has ordered our steps, that he has actively decreed certain events to transpire in our lives, as well as allowed other events to occur, should be an encouragement to us.  If God, in love, set our feet on the path of finding him, then it is certain that he will not allow our feet to wander too far off of that path.  He welcomes us to delight in him as he delights in us.

Thus, what we poses in the Lord is the freedom to love him, because he first loved us.  His love is unchanging, unflinching, never-fading, always-enduring, whole-hearted, unconditional love.  Even if we fall--like David did into grievous sin--the Lord will not let us be destroyed.  He may chasten us (and he will), but he will not let us be swept away.  His hand, his strong and mighty hand, will hold us up, and not let the flood waters of judgment sweep us away.

Saved By Grace

"For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that on one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10, ESV).

Salvation from start to finish is a work of grace.  We could never mine the depths of what that truly means.  It is mind blowing to consider the reality that though we were formerly dead, we have now been brought to life in Christ.  Paul wants his readers to be clear about this truth.  We cannot accurately talk about salvation without referencing grace.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith," Paul reminds.  Paul's statement, although blunted by years of familiarity, is truly striking. We hear it, as we have so often, but we don't fully grasp how shocking it must of been to the recipients of this letter.  Every major religion put forth some merit system, whereby worshipers could appease the gods.  Worshipers need only give this, or do that, and the gods would not make their lives miserable.  Even the Jews experience confusion in worship.  They came to believe that God would have to accept their service or their offerings.  Many of them believed their worship obligated God to do what they wanted.  However, salvation has always been a work of sovereign grace.  In grace, God revealed himself to Abraham and made him a nation.  In grace, he promised to make them his people and to be their God.  In grace, he sent them his Word to shepherd and guide them into righteousness.

Paul explains, "And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God."  Since salvation finds its starting point in the grace of God, only God can bring it to its proper conclusion.  We didn't save ourselves, nor could we.  It is difficult to know if Paul meant that salvation was the gift or if our faith is the gift.  Scholars are divided on how to interpret it.  Either way, it is God who saves us.  Paul presses on, "not a result of works, so that no one can boast."  Grace prevents pride.  It also halts division.  If we are not saved by what we do, but because God loves us, then we must in turn accept others on the same basis.

Paul concludes, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  We are examples of God's craftsmanship.  Through our salvation, God is displaying is incomparable glorious grace.  However, he does not shelve us like a trophy, but places us into service to do the work for which he has created us.

Thus, through the gracious act of redeeming us, God has changed our course.  Once we formerly traveled down Death Road, pursuing the passions of our flesh, serving Satan, and working disobedience.  Now we travel down Life Highway, pursuing the glory of our Father, through faith in the Son, as the Spirit works obedience in our hearts.

And Now for the Good News

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-7, ESV).

These verses are so rich.  They point us to the heart of the gospel message--God is not content with our destruction.  Paul has just painted a bleak picture of what we were before Christ.  We were sons of disobedience, servants of the prince of the power of the air, and spiritual corpses.  We slavishly labored after our own fleshly desires without the slightest concern for the glory of God.  Although he was the author of our life, we expended his gift in the service of a false god--ourselves.

"But God," Paul states.  But God is rich in mercy. But God loved us with a great love.  But God made us alive in Christ Jesus.  But God shed his grace upon us.  But God raised us up with Christ in the heavenly places. But God desired to showcase his glorious mercy in the coming age by extending his kindness toward us.

The word "but" is such a small word with such a powerful impact.  It is the sun breaking through the darkness of our life before Christ.  It turns the gloom of Paul's description of us into a breath of hope to sustain us.  The simple expression "But God," shifts our attention to the "immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe" (Eph. 1:19, ESV).  Paul explains that this power finds its greatest expression in the the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ (see Eph. 1:19-23).

In Ephesians 2:4-7, he demonstrates the how that power has been worked out "toward us who believe."  Just as God raised Christ from the dead (physically) and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (physically/spiritually), he has also raised us from the dead (spiritually, and eventually physically) and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (spiritually, and eventually physically).  Thus, in Christ, we have life and standing before God. 

Our life is not something that God begrudgingly gave us.  No, it was something that sprang forth from his abundant stores of mercy.  He is "rich in mercy."  He is rich in mercy toward us.  He loves us, but not with some puny, fickle, wishy-washy love.  No, he loves us with a "great love."  In all of this he shows immeasurable kindness toward us.

In the midst of this passage, Paul can't help but express the obvious.  He states, "By grace you have been saved."  We swim in a sea of God's grace from the moment of conception.  It is amazing that he chose the exact pairing of chromosomes that make us up as individuals.  He appointed their union, and brought us into existence.  His grace extends to every facet of our life--heartbeat, breath, relationships, joy, pain, work, play, etc.  His grace is immeasurable, in part, because of its constant presence in our lives.

His grace is also immeasurable for another reason.  Beyond all of the general graces God bestows upon us, there is also particular graces.  We see some of them in Paul's thanksgiving in Ephesians 1:3-15.  We are chosen, predestined to be adopted as sons because God loves us, redeemed through the blood of Christ, and sealed until redemption is completed, just to name a few.

This grace has extended life to us through Jesus Christ.  When we believed the gospel, we were made alive in Christ.  We were seated with him in the heavenly places.  That is to say, he has guaranteed our pardon and place with the Father.  Such good news should make us continually praise the glorious God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Memory

Elena Grace Burns

June 25, 2006-November 17, 2006

Today marks the third anniversary of the passing of our little Ellie.  In some ways, it seems like a thousand years ago.  In other ways, it feels like it just happened.

That morning plays over and over again in my mind.  I remember receiving the phone call, the anger, the disbelief, the powerlessness, the longing to comfort my wife, and to be comforted.  I can still remember having a disconnected feeling.  It was almost like someone had separated my mind and body' I was there, but not there at the same time.  Yet, in the midst of that disconnection I remember feeling the presence of the Lord.  He surrounded Delia and I on that day with his people (our family, church family, and friends), and loved us through them.

Through their love and service, the Lord enabled us to endure.  We are both eternally grateful to God for the time we had with Ellie, for the loving support we received from so many, for the gracious confidence that we have knowing we will see her again, and for his sustaining power that not only brought us through, but made us stronger.

They say that time heals all wounds, but I don't believe that is true.  Only the Lord can bring healing to a wounded heart.  He may use a loved one, a doctor, or a counselor to assist us in the healing, but it is unmistakably his hand that does the work. The Lord, through his grace, has caused me to hope, and it is a hope that will not be disappointed.  So I celebrate Ellie's life, even as I mourn her passing. I also celebrate the Maker of her life, and rejoice in knowing He will never pass away. I believe I will meet her again around the throne of God.  However, that reunion is not the source of my hope.  My hope rests in the One who conquered death and the grave, because by his grace he has cleansed me of my sins and given me everlasting life.  For this reason, my heart says with Job, "The Lord gives, and he takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Revival Reflections Pt. 2

Bro. Keith's message opened up Jonah 4:1-4 tonight. In this passage, Jonah express great anger over the great graciousness of God. To be frank, this passage haunts me. Jonah is not in a moment of personal lose and grief when he becomes angry with God. Jonah is not witnessing some atrocious crime being perpetrated against one of God's people. The source of his anger is God's gracious character. He states, "That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster" (Jonah 4:2).

Jonah, in essence, despised God for his mercy. Jonah would rather die than live in a world where God redeemed unworthy sinners. Anger against God is sin, as Bro. Keith pointed out tonight. But anger over his graciousness is incomprehensible. When we worship the God who reveals himself in the Word, then we cannot justify anger against him. How can someone be angry with One who is righteous, holy, just, good, and perfect? God, as he reveals himself in Scripture, is incapable of evil or wrongdoing, so therefore, how can we be angry with him?

To press the question farther, how can we possibly be angry with God for his grace? But there are those who despise God for his grace. They can handle his sovereignty (so they think). They can handle his omnipotence (so they think). Then can handle that he knows everything (so they think). But the thought of God showing grace to those they deem unworthy is unthinkable to them.

Let's get personal. Are we angry with God, because he has shown grace to someone or some group we despise? Are we like Jonah, angry and pouting, because God has been kind to someone we hate? Are we offended by grace? Is that why we bristle when we hear the word election (the bible doctrine not the political kind)? Is it because we can't see merit in someone, so we assume God couldn't either?

The plain truth is that it's absurd to hate grace, because we all need it. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23). We must not forget, as Jonah apparently did, how far down the Lord stooped to rescue us. I keep searching my heart to see if I am harboring any anger toward God, particularly toward his grace. I am praying that the Lord would show me if it is there.

Keith presented the biblical solution to overcoming our anger against God. We must wholeheartedly trust in the God who has revealed himself in Scripture. The more we know of the true God, the easier it is to trust him and the harder it becomes to be angry with him. When we see God as he truly is, there is no room for anger. Next, we must realize who we are. God is infinite in perfection. We are finite and imperfect. He sees all of eternity at once, we see a small slice of time as it is occurring. We can remember the past (partially), but we cannot glimpse the future at all. Ultimately, we must come to rest in his wisdom, and when we lack the wisdom to do so, all we have to do is ask him to give it.