"Fallen From Grace"

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace".  Galatians 5:4

"Fallen from grace".  Usually, we say that someone has fallen from grace when they turn from serving Jesus and go back into a lifestyle of sin.  I want us to look at another aspect of what it means to "fall from grace" that may be more accurate.

The Apostle warns the people that once they had accepted salvation by grace through faith, if they went back to working out their salvation according to the law they had "fallen from grace". 

We are saved by faith in what Jesus did at the cross.  Salvation is the gift of God.  We don't earn it.  We can't work hard enough to obtain it.  It is given by grace.  It is unmerited.  If it is received by grace, then it is also kept by grace.  If we try to keep it any other way, then we have "fallen from grace".  "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?".  (Galatians 3:3)

Grace is not a license; it is a gift.  You can't do enough good works to stay saved-- although we should be doing works which cause our lights to shine and bring glory to our Father in heaven.

You can't be holy enough to stay saved-- although we are to live holy lives.

You can't be religious enough to stay saved-- although we should be tending to what we consider our religious duties:  church attendance, Bible reading, fasting and prayer. 

If you are trying to be saved through your own goodness and works, then you won't receive the gift of eternal life-- it is given by grace. If you are trying to stay saved by your own goodness and works, then you have fallen from grace. It ceases to be about what Jesus did and becomes about what you can do.

Have a great day.  If you are trying to stay saved through your works, you are "fallen from grace". 

"What Do You Know About The Lord?"

"And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?"  Psalm 73:11

When I read this verse, I got a chuckle out of it.  I wanted to say, "It's because He is God".  Of course God knows.  Of course He has knowledge.  He knows everything.  But when you read it in context you see that the ones who asked these questions are the wicked.  What other answer would you expect from them, seeing they don't know God nor have a relationship with Him.

What becomes sad, instead of funny, is when one of His own children doesn't even know Him.  It is sad when they profess to know Him but can't even answer basic questions about Him. 

Just how much do you know about the Lord?  I can say upfront that none of us will know everything there is to know about Him.  If we could, He wouldn't be God.  Although we can't, and won't ever, know all there is to know about Him, He desires that we have a relationship with Him and in that relationship He will show us great and mighty things about Himself that we don't know.  He will also take us into His confidence as He did Abraham.  He will make known His ways to us like He did to Moses.  He will reveal secrets to us the way He did to Daniel.  He will walk with us in such a close manner as He did with Enoch.  He will demonstrate His power through us like He did through Paul. 

So, how content are you in your knowledge of God?  Do you not know Him?  Do you have limited knowledge of Him?  Do you only know "facts and figures" about Him?  Or do you know Him in an intimate and personal way?  Do you have a relationship with Him where He communicates more and more about Himself to you? 

Have a great day.  Just how well do you know the Lord?  How well do you want to know Him?

"God's Power Or His Faithfulness"

"....  great is thy faithfulness".  Lamentations 3:23B

I woke up thinking about the faithfulness of God this morning.  That is my favorite attribute of His.  I have found Him faithful on every occasion, every situation, every day and in every way.  He has always been faithful to do and be all that He has said He would do and be.

Many accuse Him of not being faithful because He didn't do what they thought He was going to do for them.  Or because He didn't deliver them when they thought He would.  Or He "allowed" something bad to happen.  God's faithfulness is not based on His ability to deliver, remove, take care of, eradicate or defeat your circumstance.  That is His power.  His faithfulness is something else.

The Psalmist put it this way, " Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". (Ps. 23:4)  He doesn't always deliver us out of the valley, although He is powerful and can.  He walks with us through the valley-- that's where His faithfulness comes in.  He never leaves us in our time of need, trial or testing. 

Immediate deliverance doesn't prove His faithfulness, just ask Daniel or the three Hebrews.  He didn't deliver Daniel until after a night in the lion's den.  But He faithfully stood with Daniel in that dark hole.  He didn't deliver the Hebrews from the fiery furnace until after their bonds fell off.  But He was with them-- the wicked king even saw Him in the fire. 

God's power is able to deliver us from ever trial, every desert, every valley, every furnace, every situation we find ourselves in.  But if He doesn't deliver you before, if He doesn't deliver you immediately, if He chooses to wait a while, if He chooses that you walk through it, it doesn't mean that He isn't faithful.  You can trust that He is faithful and will faithfully be there with you at the beginning and all the way until the end. 

Have a great day.  Some believe God is only faithful if He delivers them out of their trail.  That isn't faithfulness that is His power on display.  His faithfulness is the fact that He walks with you through the trial, watching over you and never leaving you until the trial is over. 

"God Gives Abundantly"

"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".  Psalm 84:11 

This verse is filled with glorious promises as well as hope. 

 

The Lord God is a sun--- He lights up our path so we can see clearly.  As the sun lights the earth and its arrival pushes back the darkness of night, so He lights our way and drives back the darkness.

 

The Lord God is a shield-- as a shield protects a warrior when in battle, the Lord protects us.  It didn't say He "gives" a shield.  It says He "is" a shield.  That means He Himself protects us.  He steps in between us and the enemy.  He puts Himself out in front of us.

 

The Lord will give grace--  He gives grace. Grace can't be earned. It can't be purchased.  It is a gift freely given to us by Him.  Grace is power and influence in our lives to be able to make it through anything.

 

The Lord gives glory-- glory means honor, abundance, splendor.  God clothes us with His own glory.  He places His honor upon us by exchanging our unrighteousness, which is like filthy rags, with His pure white robes of righteousness.  He gives honor to those who had no honor.  Abundance to those who were in lack.  He gives His own splendor to those who were once rebellious and far away from Him.  This glory came not by our own righteousness but by the righteousness of His Only Begotten Son Jesus.

 

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly-- "No" good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.  When God says, "No", He means "No".  He will not withhold anything that we need.  He will supply all our need-- spirit, soul and body.  As we walk uprightly before Him, we are in actuality "seeking first His Kingdom" because we are walking in a manner which pleases Him.  As we do, "All these things shall be added unto us". 

 

Don't you agree these are wonder promises of hope and encouragement? He is a good God who loves us so deeply and so dearly.  He wants to bestow His blessings and goodness on us daily and always, and in abundance.

 

Have a great day.  The Lord God is all and gives all that we need. 

 

"Spending Time With Jesus"

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".  Acts 4:13

"...they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".  What was it about these disciples that made the people notice and acknowledge that they had been with Jesus?  Was it their ability to heal the sick?  Was it their preaching?  Was it the wisdom in which they answered the questions?  Was it their boldness to share the gospel?  All of the above.  The fact that they had spent time with Jesus was recognizable.  The same should be said of those of us who profess to be Christians.  People should be able to say that we have been with Jesus because of what they see and hear in us.

Sadly, most people don't see Jesus in those who profess to be Christians.  The reason is clear-- they profess to know Him but never spend time with Him.  We all know that whoever you spend the most time with has the greatest influence in your life.  The Bible even tells us to choose our companions carefully because hanging out with the wrong people will corrupt good morals.  Why?  Because of their influence. 

If you spend time with Jesus, it will be evident.  You won't have to go around telling people you do, they will know it.  But this doesn't happen "haphazardly".  It doesn't happen by spending time with Him only when you are in trouble or have a problem you need Him to solve.  This happens by spending time with Him day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.  It happens by keeping the fellowship with Him open all time.  It happens by constant communion with Him.  Spending time with Him is not something you can take or leave.  Spending time with Him is not negotiable-- or shouldn't be.  Spending time with Him is our lifeline and it is what causes people to believe what we profess about our relationship with Him.

Have a great day.  People will take note that you have been with Jesus, but only if you are spending time with Him.