"A Luxury Gift"

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."  Ephesians 2:8

There are two kinds of gifts.  The luxury gift-- a gift that is given for enjoyment.  The provisional gift-- the one that is given to meet a need or practical purpose. 

The Bible says that grace is a gift given to us from God.  Most people look at the gift of grace as a luxury gift.  They see it as something that is to be used for their enjoyment.  It holds no responsibilities with it-- it is there strictly to give them pleasure.  Therefore, they use the gift of grace as a license to do whatever they please.  Grace is not a license-- a luxury gift that is at your disposal to use however you choose.

It is a marvelous gift of provision-- it provides what we need.  It is the provision by which we can be saved based on the merits of someone else.  We can't save ourselves; our good works are never good enough; our own righteousness is unacceptable because it is like filthy rags.  But because of the provision of grace, what Jesus did at the cross can be applied to our lives and make us acceptable. 

Grace is the provision by which we can live life even with a "thorn in the flesh".  It is the provision by which we can resist temptation when it comes our way.  It is the provision that will keep the door closed, and locked, when sin is crouching outside of it.  It is the provision by which we can endure to the end.  It is the provision that will keep us running the race that is set before us.  It is the provision that lifts up our heads and hands when they hang down.  It is the provision that keeps us from being distressed when we are troubled on every side.  It is the provision that gives us peace in the storm, assurance in the trial, strength to run and not be weary, and the ability to walk and not faint. 

Grace is not a luxury item gift to be used at our disposal so that we can fulfill every whim and desire of our flesh.  It is the wonderful gift of provision that God has given to us in order to be able to live an abundant victorious life.

Have a great day.  Grace is not a luxury gift, it is a provision. 

"Overruled"

"And he said unto 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." 2 Corinthians 12:9

In our verse this morning, Paul was praying for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, but God "overruled" his request and said no. 

When we are going through a trial, a difficulty, a storm, etc. and we pray that the Lord would deliver us out of it, sometimes He does.  But many times He doesn't. 

We may demand that God do it.  We may ask Him to do it, but that doesn't mean He has to.  The Father has the right to overrule the child.  The King has the right to overrule the subject.  He overruled Paul's prayer to remove the thorn in his flesh.  He overruled Joseph's desire to get out of the prison at that particular time.  He overruled Jesus' request to let the cup pass from Him if it was possible. 

When God leaves you in a situation, when He doesn't deliver you out like you want, when He says no, remember this-- He has a plan for your life.  His plan is a good plan.  Not a plan to harm or to hurt you.  When He says no but allows you to walk through it instead, or be tested by it, He is working all things together for your good.  He is protecting you from being destroyed by the enemy. He is positioning you to fulfill your destiny.  He is cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in you.  He is making an avenue so that His power might rest upon you.  He is working in you a far greater weight of glory, and He is transforming you into the image of His Son.

Although you may want Him to answer "yes", if He answers "no", He will be with you and give you everything you need to go through it.  He is working all things together for your good.

Have a great day.  If God says "no" to your request, it is because He has something better in mind for you.

For further reading:
Jeremiah 29:11
Romans 8:28   

"Jealous Love"

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."  Exodus 34:14

When we read the scriptures, like the one above, they tell us that our God is a jealous God.  This jealousy is not an "evil" emotion that God possesses.  He is jealous over us with a holy jealousy.  It's a jealousy that is rooted in His deep love for us.  He loves us so deeply, so dearly that He doesn't want to share us with someone else.  That is understandable.  I love my husband so much that I don't want to share him, or his affections, with some other woman.  

The Father's love for us is a jealous love because He knows that if we do go after some other "lover" we will wind up hurt, deceived, abused and broken.  This is what happened in the Book of Hosea.  The prophet's wife, Gomer, went after other lovers and wound up on the auction block to be sold as a slave.  God loves us so much that He doesn't want to see that happen to us-- spiritually speaking.

There is no doubt that He is jealous for us.  But the question I want to ask this morning is, "Are you jealous for Him?"  Does your heart burn with love and desire for Him?  Does it hurt you, does it grieve you, does it sadden your heart when He is not honored?  When He is misrepresented?  When others are stealing His glory for themselves?  When He is blasphemed?  When He is made the blunt of a joke or becomes a by-word?  Are you jealous for Him when He is ridiculed and mocked?  When He is denied? 

If we aren't hurt when He is made fun of, if we aren't saddened when He is cursed, if we aren't grieved when He is rejected, then just how jealous are we for Him?  Just how much do we love Him if our jealousy is measured in proportion to our love for Him.  God's jealousy was exhibited in proportion to how much He loved us through. His demonstration of that love was shown at the cross when He gave as a ransom for our sins His One and Only Son.  He did this because He loved us so much that He didn't want to share us with any other "lover" (sin and its acts) because it would all destroy us and lead us to death.   

Have a great day.  Are you jealous for God?

"A Great Company"

"The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it."  Psalm 68:11

The spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not given as a mandate to just a few chosen persons.  It is a commission that is given to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is given to those who have put their faith and trust in Him as Savior and Lord. 

But you may say, "I am not a preacher.  God hasn't called me to be a missionary.  I can't teach a Bible study."  This may be true because there are certain gifts and callings that God places on every individual.  The scripture even asks, "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?"  The answer here is, "No".  The scriptures also describe the believers as members of a body.  The physical body consists of many parts.  Not just one.  We aren't just a bunch of eyes, or ears, or toes, etc.  So is the body of Christ.  Not all of us are eyes.  Not all of us are hands.  Not all of us are pastors, or prophets, or teachers, etc.  But that doesn't mean that you don't have a part in fulfilling the commission. 

The commission was "go ye".  Ye means you.  You is whoever you are.  What has Jesus done in your life?  Then publish it.  The word publish means:  to bear news, bear tidings, publish, preach, show forth; to gladden with good news; to announce (salvation) as good news.  What has He delivered you from?  Then tell the good news.  What has He saved you from?  Then announce it to others.  What change has He made in your life?  Then share the good news. 

We have a word that others need to hear.  We have a word of hope in hopeless times.  We have a word of peace in confusing times.  We have a word of encouragement in discouraging times.  We have the answer to all the questions.  We have a light in darkness.  We have good news to share.  If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and He has saved you and changed your life, then you are part of this great company that is to share it with the world.  If we all shared it, our world would receive the hope, help and answers that it is looking for.

Have a great day.  There is a great company of people who are to share the message of good news with the world.  Are you part of that company?  Then are you sharing it?     

For further reading:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Mark 16:15

"Accepting And Denying"

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."  2 Corinthians 5:14,15

When we receive Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, there is an "accepting" that takes place.  We accept the fact that we are sinners.  We accept the fact that there is an eternal punishment that awaits us because of our sins.  We accept the fact that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves from that punishment.  We accept the fact that Jesus came, died and rose again to save us from our sins and take our punishment.  We accept the fact that faith in what He did is the only way to receive forgiveness and eternal life. 

There is also a "denying" that takes place.  We then deny ourselves.  We no longer rule our own lives.  We don't live the way we want to live.  We don't follow our own fleshly lustful desires.  We aren't the head of our own lives anymore.  We surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and then follow Him-- His will, His plan, and His desire for our lives. 

This is where many people have an issue.  They want to be the "lord" of their own lives.  They want to do what they want to do.  They don't want to have to deny their own agenda.  They don't want someone else telling them what they can and can't do.  They want to be their own "boss". 

Salvation and Christianity just doesn't work like that.  You can't have Jesus as Lord and yourself as Lord.  The two of you can't govern your life at the same time.  You can't serve Him and your flesh.  You can't follow Him and self both just as you can't be hot and cold at the same time. 

Is it too selfish of a request, is it too demanding, is it too unreasonable for the One who gave His life for you to ask you to give your life to Him?  He was beaten for you.  He was punished for you.  He was mocked for you.  He DIED for you!  If He died for you and purchased you from eternal punishment with the price of His own blood, it is only reasonable that you "should not henceforth live for yourself, but for the One Who died for you." 

Have a great day.  Jesus died for you.  It is only reasonable that you should live for Him.