Devotions Archives - Page 2 of 3 - GRACE CHAPEL BAPTIST

Grace – Unmerited Purposeful Favor

Posted on Oct 7, 2017 in Devotions |

You’ve heard this before, that God’s grace is unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, as with many dictionaries, has several definitions for the noun “grace”. I like the first definition best however because it points to God, who created grace because He knew there would be a need for grace way back before He spoke all of His creation into being. This definition says “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification”.

2 Tim 1:9 (KJV)

Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling; not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Salvation is a gift from God, given freely because it was His will and purpose to create all that we know and see. He completed His creation fully knowing that the humans that would inherit the creation would abandon Him and turn to sin and selfishness. And yet He created anyway.

He created, knowing that He being a just God, would judge that sin and that a price would have to be paid.

He created, knowing that only a perfect payment would be acceptable, and that He would have to provide that payment.

He created, knowing that His only son would suffer mocking and torture.

He created, knowing His beloved would be denied by those He taught and loved and called His disciples.

He created, knowing that Jesus, God the Son, Immanuel, the Holy One of God, He would be that perfect sacrifice.

The earlier scripture says that God has done this “according to His own purpose”. Do you know that we were created for a purpose? God did not create us because He wanted to challenge Himself with an unruly, stubborn, self-willed population of headache causers. People ask the question all the time, what is my purpose – why do I exist? God created us for a very specific purpose – to be with Him! It is not His will that any of us be separated from Him, but sin causes that separation. His purpose in creating us was for fellowship, love, companionship, and worship. We are to be with Him so that we can worship Him and love Him and be close to Him forever!

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

God’s grace is unmerited because if we could earn it, we would not need God. Think about that for a minute. If we could earn it, if we could act good enough, work hard enough, and give enough of our money and time to earn grace, why would we need God? And, why would God continue to pursue us and love us and have His heart break for us, if we could simply say to Him “Thanks but no thanks, I pay my own way.”

The fact is, God’s heart does break for us because He knows that without the salvation that He provides, we can never be returned to Him and therefore His purpose for creating each of us will not be fulfilled. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives, and it begins with us accepting that we need Him. We need God to step into our lives and bail us out from the mess we’ve created and the payment price that we cannot afford. Jesus died on a cross for this specific purpose – to pay for the sins of the world. We can’t earn it, we will never deserve it, but it’s given freely and it is sufficient for all.

Psalms 25:6-7 (KJV)

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

A prayer for today…

Father God I thank you today for your mercy and kindness. I thank you for the grace that You give to me day by day, even moment by moment. I could never hope to earn or deserve this grace, because to hope in myself is to hope in nothing. But I will hope in You Father. I will hope in Your grace and Your word and Your promises for my life. Help me today to draw closer to you and to follow Your purpose for me. I love you and I praise your name, my gracious God, Amen.

Grace – Sufficient For All

Posted on Sep 30, 2017 in Devotions |

Sometimes we can find ourselves in situations that are completely overwhelming, and yet we are taught that God’s grace is sufficient. Whether it be a health issue or financial crisis, overwhelming situations are a mainstay in the life of Christians. It is at these times that we must draw close to the Lord by drawing deeply on our faith in Him. All too often we can fall into the trap of trying to fix it all ourselves, when the fact is God’s grace is sufficient for all of humanity, and it is on our faith in His grace that we must trust and rely.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10(KJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.

It’s an interesting concept, that when I am weak, then I am strong. God does not promise to fix all of our problems, nor does He ever promise us a perfect and trouble free life. However, Jesus tells us that in this life we will have tribulation which is trouble big time. God does not promise to solve every issue, mend every broken relationship, and put a Lincoln Town car in everyone’s driveway. But what He does promise is that He loves us and that He will never leave us or forsake us. Matthew Henry says of this scripture, “Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort in all afflictions and distresses. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Thus his grace is manifested and magnified.” God’s grace is manifest in our lives when we turn to Him and rely on Him to lead us through that hard times. His grace is magnified when others see how we trust in Him, and they are encouraged not by anything that we’ve done but by our faith in almighty God.

Psalm 61:1-4 (KJV) Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry to thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever; I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah

A prayer for today… Father God, thank you for your continued grace and mercy in my life. Thank you for showing me grace over and over again, and thank you for the grace that I know you will show me in the future. I know that in You I have a God who is reliable and perfectly faithful. I know that when I cry out to You, You will listen and hear my prayer. You have been a shelter and a strong tower for me, and you have defended me many times. Help me to remember all those times that You defended me and cleared my path ahead of me of so many obstacles and hindrances that I was not even aware of. Help me to remember that You are my God who loves me and thinks well of me. You are for me, not against me, and You will light my path and show me the way forward if I will but allow You to lead me. Your grace is most assuredly sufficient for me. I love you Father, thank you for loving me so much. I pray that You will receive glory and honor this day, and that I will be receptive and obedient to Your guiding hand, Amen.

Grace – Freely Given

Posted on Sep 14, 2017 in Devotions |

The bible teaches us that God’s grace is given freely to all who seek it. God’s grace is available to the sinner and the saint alike. In Ephesians 2:8 (KJV), the apostle Paul writes: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, New King James Version, by B.B. Kirkbride Bible Co. defines Divine Grace as “unmerited favor, available to the sinner for salvation and the redeemed for victorious living.” God has grace on the sinner, in that while we were all His enemy, He loved us so much that He made a way for reconciliation. He made a way that sin could be forgiven and yet be judged and rectified. The redemptive power of the shed blood of God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the one way, the only way, to receive the gift of God’s grace which is forgiveness and salvation. And this grace for salvation is available to all who would have it. God has grace on the saint as well, as He understands that even after salvation we are prone to sin as we continue to exist in this fallen world and in this coat of flesh. As Christians we must struggle against sin daily. We must take up our cross and fight against that which would have us ignore the teaching of our heavenly Father, and instead embrace the adulterous wiles of this world. We must realize that we will fail daily, we will fall short frequently. But when we do we must run to God, not away from Him. We must run to Him with our troubles and our failures and lay them at His feet. We must ask for forgiveness and His help to identify and avoid that sin or failure in the future. And then we must move on because God gives grace to those who seek it. Remember our definition – unmerited favor, available to the sinner for salvation and the redeemed for victorious living. Brothers and sisters, we must remember that we have the victory and we are not to live life defeated! It is true that the Christian life is a struggle and we will have times of trouble and hardship. But it is in those times of hardship that we must remember the victory that our lord Jesus Christ won over death, sin, and the grave! Jesus’ victory is perfect and complete, and in Him we have a savior and friend who will lead us through the hard times and into His glory beyond!

Friend if you are reading this devotion than you simply need to know this, God is not mad at you. He loves you and He longs for you to be in fellowship with Him. His grace is sufficient for all of humanity, and He has plenty to give to you if you will accept it. Take a moment, seek Him in prayer, and get you some grace today…

Psalm 84:11 (KJV) For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

A prayer for today… Father God, I thank you for Your everlasting grace and mercy. You are truly a merciful and loving God, and You give grace to all who ask for it even though we do not nor could not ever deserve it. But You give grace freely and frequently simply because You love me. How blessed am I to have a wondrous and loving God such as You? Please help me today to avoid and struggle against those sins in my life that would separate me from You. Grant me wisdom to choose rightly and to walk in Your will this day. Allow me, either through word or deed, to shine the light of Your grace and goodness into this dark and fallen world so that someone might come to know You and Your saving grace. I love You Father, thank you for loving me, a simple sinner who You thought worth enough to save and accept. May you receive all the glory and honor that comes today, Amen.