Good Morning Friends,
Being a Christian means being different than all the rest of the eggs. We have been set apart for a purpose full of the Holy Spirit and blessed in ways that baffle the world. Embracing this mindset frees us to do amazing things even to qualify today’s question in the affirmative for what is impossible for humans is possible for God. On Sunday we heard a sermon from the story of Joseph and how he went from a pit to a prison and then to a palace with a purpose. God used the bad things Joseph experience for an ultimate good. So, Are You Backed Up By God’s Grace?
Scripture: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (NRSV)
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.
1 Kings 17:1-6 (NRSV)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Genesis 50:19-21 (NRSV)
Message: The world may not see it this way but, you are blessed to be a Christian. That is not what the original term conveyed. It was meant as a derision. The qualities outlined in the Beatitudes, though not a rite of entry into the Christian church, are elements of being a follower of Jesus as surely as love, joy, peace, and the other fruits of the Spirit. And the picture is not of an easy ride and might well involve some degree of suffering. But if we lack these Beatitude graces in our lives, we must seriously examine our own hearts, and see whether we are truly building our lives on the rock of our salvation, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. The foundation is Jesus, and that standard is better than gold. It is the ideals of life that we can attain in Christ and very different from the world’s standards. What I am referring to is the very grace of God having our back in the process of our collective transformation. Thankfully all the Beatitudes belong to all of Christ’s people, not just to an elite few. These words are for the called-out assembly of Jesus Christ, built upon the foundation of faith. These words are for the redeemed, for those who are salt and light. However, if we willingly accept the blessings, we must also embrace the responsibilities. Friends, the followers of Jesus are the poor in spirit, who mourn for their sins. We are to be the meek, who hunger and thirst after righteousness. We are to be merciful, and pure-hearted. Yes Christians, we are to be peaceful, yet persecuted. We are to possess the kingdom of heaven and receive comfort. Friends, Christians are the true heirs of the earth, and shall be satisfied. Christians shall obtain mercy and meet with God face to face. Christians shall be revealed as the true sons of God, and possessors of heaven itself. Indeed, if we are really Christians, we will be sanctified in all these blessings. We will be backed up by God and approved for a holy purpose. We will rejoice in all things.
And So, we can count on grace because God is faithful and trustworthy, but we also must realize that being filled with the Spirit is not enough and that the world might not see our lives as grace at all for grace comes in surprising ways. So, we must work at being successful in the community of the faithful beyond personal success seeking a collective grace. We are to work, using our talents to glorify God, serve the common good, and further God’s kingdom. We must stay focused realizing that God gives us what we need to accomplish the tasks we have been assigned because we will be held accountable for following God’s purposes and not our own. For this reason, we need to build up God’s house from the inside as a house of grace in each of us. Because, if we are not living in God’s growing, transforming, liberating, sustaining, restoring, and amazing grace, and then extending the same grace to others, then we are living outside the will and way of God. We are to understand and apply and use God’s grace as it was intended to upgrade our collective existence and save each other for a blessing…even though we do not deserve any blessing especially one from God.
Pray we remember that grace is God’s idea. Pray we ask for grace. Pray we remember the cross of Christ and receive grace though God’s forgiveness. Pray we forget the past and press on to the goal. Pray we learn to praise and worship God in new ways each day. Pray we extend the gift of grace to others and remember that God’s powerful grace is made perfect in our weakness. Pray we say thank you and love others each day. Pray we receive new mercies each day as we give grace away so that God’s will might be done in us. Pray we are blessed to be endowed with fullness of this divine favor. Pray we are sanctified and console each other so we might be effectively deployed for purposes glorifying God. Pray we realize that the Lord is faithful, and shall establish us, and keep us from evil. Pray we realize that only God is going to care more about us and our souls than we do. Pray therefor that we are merciful as God is merciful. Pray we are pure of heart, worthy of being called disciples of Christ. Pray we are peacemakers even in the face of persecution. Pray we are thankful for the challenges of life and the spiritual resources provided by God to help us to deal with them. Pray we keep our eyes on the goal and persevere in the faith. Pray we not put our purposes above God’s purposes. Pray that even though we fail to keep all the morality found in the Beatitudes that God still has our backs.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 