Monday, October 26, 2020

Abounding Grace: Abounding in Love

But as you abound in everything—in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to us—see that you abound in this grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7 MEV

You do well and excel in every respect—in unstoppable faith, in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you. So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:7 TPT

  We've been in an extended study of the Amazing Grace of God. We are examining how this Grace abounds in all areas of our new life in Christ. We've seen how this Grace abounds to our Faith, our knowledge of God, and our devotion to the Father. 

 Today, I want to continue this study examining how this Grace abounds in our love walk. Often we hear messages about walking in love. We hear a sermon or read an article about forgiving others. The concern is these messages and articles don't always tell you how.

 How do you love fellow believers? How do you love the leadership in your local church? How do you love members of your family? How do we love those outside of Christ?

 The Word shows us how, and it is all by His Grace;

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11 NKJV

Remember Grace supplies. God doesn't demand of us anything and gives us no power or ability to do what He asks. Grace supplies all we need to live victorious and fruitful lives.

 Because God loves us first, through this supply we can love our fellow believers in Christ. Even when they don't see things the same as we. We have the Love of the Father within. We can find common ground, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 I have friends from differing denominations. When we don't focus on our differences in theology, but on Jesus, there is a sweet fellowship. When we come in agreement to see lives changed and turned toward Christ we both rejoice.

 How do we love leadership? We pray for them. We pray for our children's ministers. We pray for the pastoral team. We pray that they speak the truth in love. If you can't find any agreement, find a church where you can find more agreement than less. For instance, if you believe in the Gifts of the Spirit for today and the church you attend doesn't, you might find it more agreeable to find a church that believes this. 

 Pray for leadership, don't tear them down with words and gossip. It's the same with your family. Pray for them. Pray for your family. If they are making poor choices, you don't have to fellowship in that setting but you can send love and kindness.

 For those outside the Church, you won't have the same worldview. That is if you have made Christ Jesus the focus of your life, your worldview is different than those who aren't focused on Jesus but on self. How then do you love them?

 Love doesn't mean you celebrate and promote other's way of living. Love means exactly what it means. Sharing goodness and kindness even with those with you disagree. Love doesn't mean you need to be a doormat for abuse. Love means you share God's Love with all. 

 Sometimes that simply means walking away from conflict. Sometimes that means not responding the same way they speak to you. Sometimes love challenges people to come up to a higher level. 

 We can love others because Christ so loved us. We can forgive others because Christ forever forgave us. We don't have to hold people's wrongs against them because Christ doesn't count our sin against us. Because we are Loved we can love.

 In summation, this Grace abounds to our love walk. Christ's perfect Love and mercy and goodness compels us to share love. This is abounding Grace, it abounds to all areas of life. 


Image by Ylanite www.pexels.com/@nietjuh from Pixabay 

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Abounding Grace: Passionate devotion


But as you abound in everything—in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to us—see that you abound in this grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7 MEV

You do well and excel in every respect—in unstoppable faith, in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you. So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:7 TPT


  We've been in an extended study examining the amazing Grace of God. Specifically, we're looking at how His Grace abounds to all areas of our Christian life bringing fullness, fulfillment, and empowerment. So far we've seen how this Grace abounds to our Faith, our words, and our knowledge of who God is. 

 Today, it seems good to continue this study, looking at how this Grace abounds to our personal devotion to God. So often different ministries and churches declare that Radical Grace, eternal security, leads to a license to sin, a motivation to do wrong. I strongly disagree. God's Grace is the motivation for devotion to God. 

 Understand what Grace is. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, and unmerited favor of God. When received it produces and empowerment in our life. Grace isn't empowerment. Grace is unearned favor. Don't get confused as to what Grace is versus what it does. 

 When we define Grace as empowerment, we shift back into a works mindset. We still have demands, pressure, and obligations placed on our lives but Grace gives us the strength to fulfill these obligations. That is not Grace. 

 Think of this. Are your children your obligation? The word obligation is defined as duty, chore, a burden. There isn't necessarily a joy in being indebted to someone. So again is your children or your spouse an obligation? 

 I hope you don't see them as a chore. I hope you don't see family as a burden. Certainly, as adults, there is a level of responsibility we commit to. Yet, that is not at the forefront of our thinking when we love, truly love our family. Why do you find children caring for aging and sickly parents? Is it an obligation? In dysfunctional homes perhaps, but in healthy homes, I've seen the compassion from each of its members spring forth. 

 My point is, the compassion each family member brings forth isn't obligatory. It isn't trying to earn acceptance and more favor. It's rooted in a place of love and kindness shared among each member. 

 When we receive the Love of the Father, knowing how He sees us, how He's made us accepted and approved, devotion, passionate devotion is the natural response. Grace abounds toward us and our devotion to Him grows more and more.

 When we think of His unfailing Love toward us, when we reflect on His all the time Goodness to us, when we see His great Grace overshadow all of our flaws, failures, and foul-ups, What else can we do but devote ourselves more and more to such a loving Father. His Goodness, His Grace, His Love, is the motivation for devotion. He is so so Good!

 God's unwavering faithfulness toward us reminds us of how much we need Him. His faithfulness abounding to us brings to our remembrance that if it had not been for the Lord where would we be? He is even faithful when we are faithless. This faithfulness produces such a thankful heart, a joyous heart, and a heart of gladness because God is our everlasting Father who is well pleased with us.

 This abounding Grace empowers our devotion. We are eager to become a blessing to those around us. We are enthusiastic to help advance Jesus' name and His kingdom all throughout this Earth. All because we've seen and known His goodness, faithfulness, and Love abounding toward us.

 In summation, this Grace is so great. It abounds in all areas of our life. It empowers our Faith, our words, and knowledge of God. It produces an enthusiastic, energetic, empowered connection with our Daddy God. He is so Good!


Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay