Tag: Grace

Work Out What God Works In: MT e66

When I was much younger there were occasional summers that we as a family would go to Curie Beach in NC. One very clear memory is my mother would always get me a new plastic bucket and shovel to use on the beach. 

But there was one condition, I could not use it until we got to the beach.  I had other plastic shovels that were older but why use them if the brand new one was right here.

I had ants in my pants every time.  I could not wait to use that new bucket and shovel.

Then finally, we would get to the destination, and I would be able to work with my new tools.  I could dig and rake until my heart was content.

Philippians 2:12-13 it says, “As you have obeyed . . . continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

When it says, work out your salvation, does it mean that we are to work to gain our righteousness?  Is Scripture saying here that God does His part and we do our part?

The short answer is no. 

We are saved by grace through God’s loving kindness and mercy.  Grace means gift.  You do not work for a gift.

In the process of being saved God changes us.  It is a miraculous change of heart.

Just like the younger me with my beach toys, just itching to get busy. This is the same picture for the believer.  We are excited to get busy with our new tools that God has given us.

We are not working to gain righteousness but because we are righteous.

Believers are WORKING OUT what God has WORKED IN us.  (repeat)

This is the ongoing desire for every believer.  Keep working out what God is working in. 

Why . . .because it is for His good purpose.  Our Lord always gets the glory. That is why I say:

S.D.G.

Come To Jesus: MT e46

A few days ago, I began reading through the book of Lamentations. To lament is to weep or an expression of sorrow or grief. 

In the Hebrew Bible, Lamentations is called “How” which is the first word in the book. 

“How lonely sits the city that was full of people!  How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations. . . She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks”

These opening words, referencing a widow, really hit home.  It was not long ago that my father passed away from this life leaving my mother alone.  They had been married for 69 years, has come to an end.

The past weeks I have heard and felt her weeping. She is experiencing deep sorrow and I can only imagine, the sounds of grief that only the walls the house they built, witness. 

The reason for the weeping, sadness and sorrow of Lamentations is the rebellious people of Jerusalem (the lonely city that was once full of people) are being taken into exile. 

The patience of God has come to an end. The city is being destroyed. It has come to an end.

The hundreds of years of God’s patience has come to an end.  The people are facing judgement by being exiled and their city destroyed.

The focus Monday was to encourage those in the faith or Christ.  Today, I would like to lovingly address any who hears this and you are NOT in Christ.

I am calling you.  I want you to hear me. 

On one extreme there are those raised in a church family, and you have abandoned the faith.  The other extreme are those who never sat foot inside of a church building.  The rest fit in between.  My words for you today, come to Jesus. 

God is patient.  God is loving.  God is merciful.  But for those outside of the faith, it will come to an end. 

For those outside of the faith, there will be a final day.  Just like those in Lamentations, there will be a final day, a final hour and a final breath.  There will be a day of judgement.

Being outside of Christ means, you will not have the righteousness of Jesus on which to claim.  That will certainly be a moment to lament.  Oh, how you will weep. 

If you would like to discuss this, privately and confidentially you can reach out to me at:

Grace: MT episode 24

There is one word that appears in the book of Ruth. It is a word that one would not expect in this story. The word is grace, or favor, depending on the translation being read.

As we continued our study of Ruth yesterday, we found that word grace used not one time but three times. For just a few moments today I would like to focus on that word.

Grace defined is unmerited favor. That is a way of saying, unearned gift. You are given something, in this case, by God, and it is not pay back for something you did.

When you work at a job, your wages are not grace. Wages are paid for work rendered. If you do not go to work, you would not receive pay.

As believers, when we read through the Bible, it is very easy to place some of the Bible characters on a pedestal. In a way, they are like superheroes because many of them perform supernatural type activities.

By doing this a hierarchy is created, most often unknowingly. God, Moses, us. God, Noah, us. God, Abraham, us.

Yet Scripture teaches differently. Take Noah.

In the days of Noah, was Noah chosen because, on his own because he had a righteousness that pleased God? Did all the world descend into crazed evil but Noah (and family) were the only ones who did not?

Genesis 6:8 says that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah did nothing to merit this. Noah did nothing to earn God’s grace. It was not payment for something Noah did. Rather, it was God’s gift to Noah.

Noah was just like you and me. Even more, Joshua tells us that Abraham was an idol worshiper when God called him. Abraham definitely received God’s grace.

I take great comfort in this and so should you. Why? God has and does use small, weak and flawed men and women, all through Scripture and did mighty things through them. Those small, weak and flawed men and women did nothing to earn God’s grace or favor.

When we better understand these things, it not only takes the attention off us, but also it brings more attention and praise to our God. And rightfully so.

S.D.G.

Every Breath

Once while driving home, in the dark of night, near Indianapolis, IN the traffic was heavy.  The Indianapolis 500 had just concluded, and many people were filling the interstate and making their way back home.

It was in this traffic that I heard a very odd noise coming from the engine.  It was not a constant noise but would occur about every 10 to 15 minutes.  I began a silent prayer, “Lord, just let me make it home.” 

Fortunately, I did make it home and for those who care, I later found that it was an A/C compressor issue.  But I think of this moment in my history because it highlights an important notion, which is we only take the big things to God.

My circumstance was dire.  It was late.  It was dark.  It was over two hours from home.  If I were to be stranded, it could easily turn into a very long night. 

My hope was the Lord just let the car make it.  This is out of my control.  Please help me.  Please just let me get home and I can get it repaired later.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that prayer.  I am so thankful God said “yes” to that prayer. 

I do not think I am alone when I say that my typical practice is to really depend on God for the “Big Things” which tend to be, things out of my control:  Rough engines at night when far from home, or bigger medical procedures. 

Yet I am more prone to handle things “In my control”.  No need to bother God with this.

Now, my words are not to be to the extreme that when we clip our finger nails we must pray to the Lord.  That is absolutely not the purpose. 

Rather, it is more an attitude that we must adopt.  Every single breath is a gift.  The simple act of breathing, God is in control. 

The old hymn, I need thee every hour – I have adopted at times, Lord, I need you every second.  I am utterly, totally dependent upon You.

From Psalm 73 God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Keep that in mind!

S.D.G.

The Sunday Message Hebrews 1:1-4

Lessons from Prince Harry

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 1:1-4, English Standard Version

From East to West: MT e13

There is not a thanksgiving celebrated that at some point in the day I do not think of my oldest sister.  Many decades ago, when I was about 4, our family was getting ready for the Thanksgiving Day traditional meal: turkey. 

My sister was cutting the pieces of the turkey with an electric knife and somehow cut the end off one of her fingers.  Of course, panic ensues and quick action to wrap the injury and off to the emergency room.

They were able to stitch the injury and in due time normal use of that digit was restored (except she never regained the ability to feel in the end of that finger.)

Through all these years, I can only remember once that we even talked about this incident.  Every year, I think of this at least one time through this day.

What is the lesson for us?

  1. Be careful with this electric knife today
  2. Psalm 103 speaks of God’s great love and compassion for His people.  It says, He does not deal with us according to our sins. 

Then it makes 2 comparisons:

  1. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love towards those who fear him
  2. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.

Why did it say east from west and not north from south?  I have an idea: when you begin from the south pole and start going north you eventually reach the north pole.  If you keep traveling, you will at that point stop going north and begin to go south.

But if you start in London and go to NYC you are going east from the west.  If you were to continue traveling, even if you make it all the way back to London  you will still be going west. 

It means, your sins are forever removed.  They are cut from you.  Not attached to you.  The thing they were able to do with my sisters finger all those years ago cannot be done to the believer. 

For this we who are in Christ are to be the MOST thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving (be careful Y’all) SDG

No Regrets? MT episode 7

Years ago, a statement made by a pastor one Sunday morning really stood out.  He said, “To the guests here, we are not a gathering of a people who have it all together.  We do not live perfectly.  This is the point for why we gather.  To praise the one who did live perfect and through Him we are made perfect.”

This is often missed by both, those who are Christians and those who are not.   It is quite easy for those who are outside the faith, to look at those in the faith, and accuse them of hypocrisy.  Because we are not perfect.  We sin, and Scripture confirms this very thing.

The New Testament writer Paul said, “The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 1 Tim 1:14-15

I have felt those words.  Some say, “I have no regrets.”  This is not me.  There are actions in my past that I hate.  There are things that I have done that I despise and at times still weep over them when they come to mind.  Paul’s words that he was the chief of sinners were only true because I had not yet been born.

Then there is that beautiful phrase, but Christ!  There is a gracious, patient and merciful love in Christ which cannot be described by words. 

For you those of us who are in the faith, we are perfect.  Not by our doing but because we are IN CHRIST.  It is your position in Christ.  He is the source of your perfection.  And He is worthy of our praise.

Until Next time SDG

Oh Harry! MT episode 2

I have not been one who follows the Royal Family in England yet there is one story that retains my attention.  This is not an in-depth interest but when I see a headline I will read it.  The story of which I am referring is Mr and Mrs. Prince Harry leaving the Royal family which happened a number of years ago.

When he and his wife left, they lost several things like titles, a place in the Royal Palace and they left a family with a net worth of $60 Billion.

They left this life in England to go to California and do podcasts, write a book and have occasional acting appearances, leaving behind all the financial security imaginable to be everyday working stiffs.

Think about this: They now have to make arrangements for internet service, pump gas, grocery shop, change oil in the car, arrange and plan for health and car insurance.

As a believer, did you ever consider this in terms of Jesus? 

The book of Hebrews begins:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Jesus left infinitely more in comparison to what Harry left. 

These opening words of Hebrews are deep but today consider just one thing.  Jesus, very creator God, enters the fallen creation to encounter hunger, thirst and fatigue. 

ALSO, for the saved, he faced death.  The wages of sin is death.  For those who are of the faith, He encountered this death, in our place.  On our behalf.  God FOR US!

Oh what a mighty Savior is Jesus my Lord. 

i believe