Thursday, March 31, 2016

His Work of Grace


 “He was despised and rejected by mankind,

    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

    stricken by him, and afflicted.”

Isaiah 53:3-4

 



What do you look for in a leader?

Is it charisma?

Someone who appeals to the masses?

What attracts us to follow one person over another?

In the verses above from Isaiah, as he prophesied concerning Jesus, we find nothing that would turn the crowds in His favor.

In fact, He was despised and rejected by mankind.

Nothing in Him would make Him popular by today’s standards.

Popularity can be a very fickle barometer.

Yet no man impacted other men (and all of mankind) as Jesus did.

We cannot point to His good looks, populist thinking, business acumen or anything else we hold in high esteem concerning effective leaders.

We like to think that if we were on the earth 2,000 years ago that we would be the exception.

But would we?

You see it is the work of the Holy Spirit that draws us to that place of recognition and surrender.

Even in coming to Christ we cannot take the credit.

We are drawn by the Spirit of God.

The revelation of who He is comes by the Holy Spirit.

The next time you are tempted to boast in how you came to know Him consider the facts and gratefully acknowledge His work of grace in drawing you to Himself.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

In His Presence


"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11



I know what it says; that He will fill me with joy in His presence.

But how come I don’t feel like there is any joy in my life?

Suppose I pulled into a gas station to fill my tank up.

But when I went to pump the gas it only took eight cents worth.

I cannot fill up a tank that is not empty.

Sometimes we come into God’s presence filled with so many things in our lives.

Worry, anxiety, fear and hatred, just to name a few of the things we carry.

When we fail to cast all of our care on Him and try to carry them all ourselves we are like that tank already full with no more room.

Lay those things down.

Go into His presence and empty yourself so that He can fill you.

His joy is so much better than those things we carry around.

And when you come into His presence, linger.

Stay in His presence longer than you stay at the drive up window for coffee.

Let Him fill you to overflowing so that there is some to share with others.

Let Him fill you with joy in His presence so that when you are in the presence of others they will know you have been with the King!

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Grace Wins


"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind,

the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”

I Timothy 2:5,6





Ransom: a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity.

When the word ransom is defined in that way it seems so inadequate to the price that was paid on the cross.

Nothing less than the very Son of God shed His blood and poured out His life for the release from the bondage of sin that you and I were held in.

But notice that the ransom was not for us alone but “...for all people.”

That is the glorious message of the Gospel.

It is not a message made available through force or conscription either.

Grace makes it available to anyone.

You know that person you despise because of their vile behavior?

Grace is available.

What about the one about which you said:

“I could never forgive them!”

Grace is available to them as well.

It is never earned by our ‘good’ behavior

Nor is it voided by our ‘bad’ behavior.

It is, as the song says, Grace Wins Every Time...





Monday, March 28, 2016

Seek the Living


"For in him we live and move and have our being.”

Acts 17:28a





I hope your Easter was blessed!

More than that, I hope you carry the power of the resurrection into each and every day so that others may know Christ through your testimony.

I often remember a scripture that the Holy Spirit made alive to me many years ago and the wisdom it continues to speak to my spirit.

I was seeking Gods’ direction concerning where I should fellowship as I left military service.

God graciously made it very clear to me through Luke 24:5

“...but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

It was God Himself asking me that question and in doing so answered without any doubt where I should be.

But it wasn’t simply a static word for many years ago.

It is wise counsel applied every day.

We are given His resurrection life.

If that same power, scripture declares, that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, it makes you alive in Him!

We find our purpose in Him.

We need not look for life in traditions, religion, ancestor worship, New Age, Freemasonry or any other place people search for life and purpose.

So the question asked many years ago still rings true today:

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”


Friday, March 25, 2016

Above All Else


Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

When I walked down the aisle over 30 years ago, I pledged my heart to my wife.  Till death do us part, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer…..you know the drill.

To this day, my wife still requires and expects that same commitment.  She will not settle for anything less than ALL my husbandly attention and affections and she deserves nothing less. Can you imagine if I looked my wife in the eyes and said “honey, I love you and Mary, and Jill, and Suzie?”  The aftermath would not be pretty.

In the same way (and even more so), when we said yes to Jesus, we pledged our hearts to Him and He will not settle for anything less.  God repeatedly challenges us in scripture to love him with ALL our heart (Luke 10:27, Deuteronomy 10:12, and Matthew 22:37 to name a few).

Yet our actions and affections often say “God, I love you and [insert here anything that we spend more time thinking about than God].”

How serious is God about not playing second fiddle to anything or anyone?  Listen to what He says in 1 John 2:15-17“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Or again in Matthew 10:37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

Pretty strong words, but yet so necessary for us to hear.  Our creator and Lord deserves nothing less than our all.

God’s love is freely given in abundant measure. It is never based on anything we do or don’t do.  However, to glorify His name on the earth and experience all He has for us, He must have preeminence in our life.

Will you respond to His call today to love Him above all else?  Will you shed lesser things and pursue Him will all your heart? It’s a moment by moment journey, but one so fitting for the King of Kings.


Thursday, March 24, 2016

“I have not Stopped....”


"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12



“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

Ephesians 1:16



Is there someone in your life that you are thankful for?

Do you tell them that?

Better yet, are you faithful in prayer remembering them and giving thanks for them?

The Bible tells us that all good gifts come from heaven.

That person you are thankful for – be it a friend, a family member or a co-worker – is a gift wrapped in heaven for you and delivered into your life as a blessing.

We are so much quicker to judge and criticize than we are to receive and bless.

It is our old nature at work in us to more frequently remember those who hurt us in some way rather than to pray and thank God for those who have blessed us.  

But a grateful heart has such tremendous power to turn our attitude and our behaviors around.

We begin to recognize what God has poured out on us through others.

As we do, we can faithfully lift them in prayer.

Maybe someone is always there to encourage you in your walk.

Maybe it is someone who loves you enough to not let you get away with actions in your life that lead to trouble.

Whoever it may be, take some time to faithfully remember them in prayer.

Don’t let the precious gift God has given you be taken advantage of through neglecting to thank Him.

It will lift you and it will lift that other person too!

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The Incense of Heaven


"And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”

Revelation 5:8





Imagine having every word you speak captured.

Why would someone do that?

Generally, we do that when we place a value on that person’s words.

One need look no further than your Bible and the red letter words of Jesus.

But what about our words, or more specifically, what about our prayers, do they hold value?

Indeed they do!

God collects them in golden bowls in heaven and they are poured out as incense before the Throne of God.

Incense is used to produce a strong, pleasant aroma.

Your prayers matter to your Father.

If you have ever used incense then you know that the fragrance permeates and lingers in the space it is burned in.

It has an impact beyond the spot it is burned and the moment it is burning.

God collects our prayers because He values the petitions of His children.

They come before Him as a pleasing aroma.

Do you value them?

Do you delight in coming into His presence?

Have you taken that time of sweet communion with Him today in prayer?

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Your Kingdom Come


"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 2:42



 


What would happen if we prayed our desires instead of Gods’?

Would these be the words that come out of our mouth:

My kingdom come

My will be done

In my life and everywhere else...

Of course, we don’t speak those words but do we live them?

Is doing His will preeminent for us?

Do we want to see His Kingdom come to the earth?

Do we want to see His Name hallowed?

Do we enter into prayer with joy at the privilege of listening for the Father’s heart?

How might that change our times of prayer if we did?

Perhaps it would mean communion and not confusion; direction and not distraction; fellowship and not frustration.

God delights when you come to Him in prayer.

He really does.

To hallow something is to revere and highly respect it.

One of the best ways we can hallow the Name of God is to bring His Kingdom to the earth as He reveals His will for us in our times of prayer can communion with Him.




Monday, March 21, 2016

Are You Listening?


"Come to me with your ears wide open.

Listen, and you will find life.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you.

I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”

Isaiah 55:3 New Living Translation




Prayer works.

Do you agree with that statement?

Most, who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ, would never disagree.

But maybe a more direct question would have a less than enthusiastic answer.

Do your prayers work?

On a personal level do you see your prayers answered?

I don’t mean to say that the answers are always “Yes” but can you say – even when the answer is not yes – that prayer works!

We too often reduce ‘successful’ prayer to meaning nothing more than:

 “I got what I asked for.”

But could it be that sometimes the more important question is:

“Did heaven get what they asked for?”

Do you approach prayer like a child approaches Santa?

I want, I want, I want...

...or is it with an ear tuned to heaven?

Jesus taught us “...your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

There is no question that the Father’s will is accomplished in heaven.

But what about earth?

One aspect of our prayer is to hear and bring the Father’s will to earth.

It was never meant to be a litany of only my needs.

When you pray – stop and listen.

You may hear the Father’s will revealed for you, for your family and for your church.

Are you reciting or are you listening?




Friday, March 18, 2016

Are You a Window Shopper?


Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:10)

I definitely tend to be a window shopper, especially when it comes to big ticket items.  I can be a bit frugal and reluctant to make those large purchases.  I will see something and think about how nice it would be to own it, but then I talk myself out of it.

The conversation with myself will go something like this – “Wow that sure is nice.  I would love to have it, but it’s a little bit extravagant for my budget.  Will I be able to afford it?  Do I really need it?”  I rationalize “maybe someday, but not right now” and I walk away.

I wonder how many of those moments I was really walking away from a blessing God desired to give me.  I have a feeling I will get to heaven and have the ability to look back on my life and see too many of those occurrences when I let an opportunity to receive God’s blessing pass me by.

We also often resort to window shopping when it comes to being used by God.  God created us to do good works and He equips us with spiritual gifts and abilities to carry them out, but we talk ourselves out of allowing God to use us.

Instead of looking to an unlimited God, we look at our limitations and say “I’m not good enough, or spiritual enough, or knowledgeable enough for God to use me like that.” We ask ourselves “What if I fail?” or “What if God doesn’t show up?” and we walk away from a situation where God desired to demonstrate His love and power through us.

Let’s not live with any regrets.  Let’s not get to heaven only to see missed opportunities where we resorted to window shopping because we were unwilling to let God use us in a way that was outside our comfort zone.

When it comes to God using you, don’t just peer through the window of possibilities.  Go in and try those gifts on!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Taste and see...


Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8




We spoke previously about receiving all that God has for us as believers.

Consider these words from the message last Sunday at His Place:

“Refusing to receive makes it all about you.

Humbling yourself, submitting to Him by choosing to receive all He made available to you through grace, makes it all about Him.”

Have you ever taken the time to carefully choose a gift for a loved one or close friend only to have them open the gift and respond in a less than enthusiastic way?

My mother-in-law (well into her nineties) refused, for a very long time, to use a wheelchair to get around. Her pride kept her from going places the wheel chair would have made possible.

The chair and those to push it were available but she refused it.

Until one day...

...we took her for a drive to the park at Lake Ontario not far from her home.

Unbeknownst to her, the wheelchair was in the back of our vehicle.

When she realized what a wonderful day it was and saw all the people walking on the pier and the boardwalk she understood what the wheelchair made available to her.  

From that day on, anytime we took her out it was she who asked,

“Do you have my wheelchair?”

When she had finally realized all that was available that she had been missing out on she accepted what was offered.

We too live below the available resources of heaven.

God has so much that pride keeps us from receiving.

Humble yourself, honor Him and accept the gifts of grace made available to all of His children.

Taste and see...

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Should I or Shouldn’t I?


“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy

when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

I Timothy 4:14





Should I or shouldn’t I receive all that God has for me?

Well, presented like that certainly makes it seem like a ‘no-brainer’ answer.

Yet many receive salvation and it ends there.

They make the trip to the cross and stop.

But there is so much that Jesus made available to us at the cross and through the resurrection.

It is available but too often not appropriated by us.  

Gods’ gifts to us were never meant to sit on the shelf.

Don’t leave His empowering and equipping on the shelf.

Don’t live with less when so much (abundantly) more is within reach.

Don’t let confidence, faith and a deeper walk remain on the shelf like treasures packed away for a great celebration that never comes.

Celebrate today with all God has for you.

Take freely so that you might give freely to others.

Leaving them on the shelf robs you, and them, of the grace God has given.

Are you reaching for the shelf yet?

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Membership has its’ Rewards




“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

I Corinthians 2:12






Maybe you’ve joined an organization or paid to be

part of some ‘club membership’ store.

Inevitably, you were bombarded with all of the ‘benefits’

your wise choice had earned you.

Lower prices, preferred status, freebies, etc..., etc..., etc...

There seems to be no limit to the marketing effort designed

to get you to sign on the dotted line.

Grace, the unmerited favor of God, which you and I don’t deserve

and can’t earn, comes with incomparable benefits.

Let me repeat that – they are incomparable – nothing can even come remotely close to what is given to us as Children of God.

The wonderful truth is it is available to whoever calls on the Name of the Lord.

So what are those benefits?

What is made available to us through grace?

Salvation - the righteousness of Jesus redeems, restores, and rewards.  Indwelling of Holy Spirit - the constant, comforting Presence of our God

 Access - to our Heavenly Father and the resources of His Kingdom

Divine Fellowship - 24/7 communion with the Creator & Sustainer of all things.  Adoption - no longer orphans of the state (world), now Children of God

 Heirs - Co-heirs with Christ of our Father's Kingdom.

Go ahead, compare it to anything man can offer.

Then, as one popular TV offer claims, you can break into your happy dance!

He is worthy of your praise.

May His abundant grace impact your life today.


Monday, March 14, 2016

The Peace of God


In light of where we have been as a culture these last several months, please take some time to consider and meditate on these passages.

May our walk be led by the Prince of Peace and may His fruit be evident in our lives to all we come in contact with.



Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge

of God and of Jesus our Lord.

II Peter 1:2



Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9



Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14



Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those

who promote peace have joy.

Proverbs 12:20



Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27



May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13





Maybe you have heard it said that peace is not merely the absence of strife but the presence of God. Let the peace of His presence guide your thoughts and your actions so that you might bring His peace to bear in a world filled with strife rather than being someone who adds to that strife.



I know the style of this music video may not be for everyone but please let the message sink in:

https://youtu.be/-YKGLpN_eak





Friday, March 11, 2016

Being in the right place at the right time


Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:
“What is it, Lord?” Cornelius asked.  The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.  Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” (Acts 10:4-6)

Peter’s instructions…

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19-20)

Both Cornelius and Peter had an encounter with God and each were given their instructions.  They obeyed and the result was a God-ordained meeting where the Holy Spirit showed up, lives were changed and God was praised. (Acts 10:44-46)

Would you like God to speak to you like He did Cornelius and Peter and give you a set of instructions that will lead to you having an active role in God’s purpose and plan being accomplished on the earth?

I think we all would, but there’s a couple steps we need to follow to prepare for such an encounter.

First, we need to position ourselves to hear God by spending time with Him in prayer.  Lots of it.  I don’t think it was a coincidence that both Cornelius and Peter were praying when God spoke and gave them their instructions.

Second, we need to obey.  The divine encounter that followed hinged on both Cornelius and Peter responding to God’s instructions.  Had either decided not to obey, the encounter would not have happened.

God knows the beginning from the end, but He often chooses to unfold His plan little by little. Our responsibility is to be obedient to every step God asks us to take along the way.

The end result will always be being in the right place at the right time to see God’s kingdom advanced on the earth.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Hold the Chatter!


“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge

in it will become more and more ungodly.”

2 Timothy 2:16





The Bible speaks of wise words and those who choose them.

The world, though, is filled with the opposite.

godless chatter dominates our airwaves and public discourse.

It is acceptable and rewarded to be uncivil and even crass in some circles.

The louder and more offensive one is the more celebrity status they enjoy.

You can hardly watch the news or listen to the radio without two people shouting at each other.

We are told that the fruit of such behavior is to become more and more ungodly.

By contrast a follower of Jesus Christ is admonished to bless and not curse, to speak life to others.

It is easy to engage in debate with those who think differently than we do but before you do, it may benefit to ask yourself some questions.

Am I able to disagree and still use my words to build up and encourage?

At the end of the discussion, who or what is lifted up, Jesus Christ or my ego?

Can I speak in a way that we not cause me embarrassment or the need to

seek forgiveness for my words?

Always remember the power of the tongue!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Are You Looking?


“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort

those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4



“Do as I say, not as I do.”

Those are words you will not hear from God.  

God demonstrates His love for us.

In the verse above we read that we can comfort any in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

In another passage we are told –

“Freely you have received, freely give.”

So what is it that we have received freely?

From the hand and heart of God we have received grace, love, mercy, peace, hope, blessings, joy, compassion and comfort, just to name a few.

Most people who do not know God would still gladly receive those things from us.

We are ambassadors for Christ with a ministry of reconciliation.

God is reconciling the world to Himself through us.

What a privilege to carry these things and this ministry to those hurting and hungry.

Did you see that one earlier today that just needed some encouraging words and a hug?

Have you run into someone this week that needed grace extended to them?

Look for those opportunities to minister Gods’ love, comfort and hope.

There is no shortage of people needing Him!





Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Showing off God’s Love


“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech

but with actions and in truth.”

I John 3:18





We learned yesterday that Jeremiah was being asked by God to buy a field from his cousin.  Prophets not only spoke the Word of the Lord but many, many times their actions were meant to demonstrate the Word of the Lord.

They were not just to be listened to but also to be watched.

Sometimes the things God commanded them to do seemed pretty wild. Always though, there was a purpose behind the picture God was asking the prophet to present.

Prophesy to a valley of dry bones Ezekiel, marry a prostitute Hosea, walk naked through the land, hide your underwear under a rock, shave your beard with a sword, lay on one side for 390 days, and then flip over to the other side for another 390 days.

These are just some of the things we might consider “weird” that God asked His prophets of the Old Testament to do.

Not to say, but to do!

We too are encouraged to be Children of God who demonstrate His love by our actions and not just to speak of it with our words.

Jeremiah’s purchase was made not to enrich the prophet of God but to demonstrate to the nation that God would once again bring His people back to the land He gave them. We often quote the verses from Jeremiah about Gods’ plans giving us a future and a Hope.

Jeremiah was drawing a picture of that for them and for us.

How can you demonstrate God’s love today to someone?

It doesn’t have to be a nation that you minister too – just one person.

God can speak to you about how to show, by your actions, His love to someone else.

Listen for His voice and become His ‘demonstration’ to someone today!

Monday, March 7, 2016

Buy a Field...


“Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’

“Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’

“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.”

Jeremiah 32:6-9





So, I hear you are in the market for some real estate.

What is it that brokers tell you when it comes to purchasing property?

Location, location, location!

It’s all about where you make your purchase isn’t it?

We want our money and our investments to grow and not to shrink so we purchase property where that is most likely to happen.

In what locations might you not be too smart to purchase property?

Areas you might stay away from...how about:

A toxic waste site, a high crime area or a remote ‘forever wild’ site where development is forbidden

Imagine a command from God coming to you to buy some property in one of those types of locations.

Do you think you might say “Get thee behind me, Satan.”?

Could there possibly be some doubt, some reason to question whether or not it was the voice of God?

That is exactly what happened to Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah was being asked by God to buy a field from his cousin. Jeremiah was being asked to ‘buy a stake’ in God’s promise to the nation. Have you been asked to ‘buy a stake in the vision and plans of God for your neighborhood, town, city, region or world? Of course you have! It is called the Great Commission and as disciples we are all commanded to go!

Friday, March 4, 2016

Don’t we at least get good marks for trying?

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4)

If someone took a poll and asked Christians what alienates a person from Jesus, what do you think would be the most common response?  If I were to venture a guess, I think “sin” would be the first response for many Christians, including myself.

And, if pressed further, many Christians could probably rattle off a list of sins that are sure to separate us from God.  Some may even quote some variation of the top ten list.  You know, the “thou shalt not” list.

But I find it interesting that in the above verse God zeros in on something else that alienates us from Him - thinking we can justify ourselves in God’s eyes by obeying a list of laws or thinking we can earn His acceptance by all the good things we do.

When we talk about things that separate us from Jesus, I bet trying to be justified by the law is not on many of our lists.

After all, what’s so bad about trying to obey God’s laws to get closer to Him? Don’t we at least get good marks for trying?  Nope!  God said all that does is alienate (isolate, estrange, separate) us from Him.  Why? Because even our best efforts fall far short of God’s holiness.

It stands to reason that if trying to be justified by our actions will separate us from God, then the very opposite will draw us closer.  What is the opposite?  Knowing that we are only justified by grace, the free and unmerited favor of God.

John 1:17 sums up the contrast beautifully – “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Let’s not abandon God‘s grace.  When we do, we resort to trying to be justified by our actions, which only alienates us from God.  Instead, let’s cling desperately to His grace which draws us closer.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Grace Poured Out


And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:7-8

 
It wouldn’t’ be 100% correct to say that we were challenged at the end of the service last Sunday with these words:

“What will you do with the grace you have been given?”

While that question was posed to us last week it is also a challenge spoken by Jesus to His disciples (that should include all of us) implicit in the scripture above.

So often we rationalize away why it is not happening.

We say things like:

“Oh, that was only meant for the early church.”

Or

“If God wanted me to do that, then He would tell me.”

But I think He did.

It is stated above!

Don’t get me wrong – I haven’t raised a single dead person to life so the “we” includes “me”.

We are walking below our calling as a church.

We are walking below our inheritance as a church.

The world is watching and the world is waiting for the

Sons of God to be revealed.

Not the Sons of Wesley or the Sons of Luther,

as honorable as their work for the Kingdom was.

The world needs the Sons of God, filled with His grace, to start freely giving of that grace we have freely received.

Let His grace on your life be freely poured out on others.

What will you do...with the grace you have been given...today?