Ephesians 2:7-8 NLT
Do you ever find yourself reading about different ones in the Bible and wondering, Why? Why did you do that? How COULD you do that after all God had done? What were you thinking? Only to read on a little further and recognize yourself in their actions? O Father, forgive me. Who am I to judge? Except for Your grace, I would be so much worse than what I am.
Paul was well aware of God's grace in his own life and the lives of those around him and for all future generations. Did you catch that part of the verse? So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace...
A little further down in this chapter, verse 10 reads, For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. There are many things God has laid on our hearts that we think, I can't do that. Un-unh...no way. I've done this or I've done that, who's gonna listen to someone who has done that? Nobody's going to listen to what I have to say. I'm not a speaker. Except for His grace... Neither was Moses. Neither was Peter. Neither was Paul.
And the litany in your head continues, I can't...I can't... I can't... And you're right, you can't. Except for His grace...
By grace, Paul - former Christian killer - became an apostle.
By grace, Rahab - a harlot - became part of the lineage of Christ.
By grace, David - a shepherd boy who was so NOT impressive that his father didn't even call him to the house when the prophet came - he became king.
By grace - Jacob - a liar and a cheat from a long line of liars and manipulators - inherited God's blessing and God changed his name to Israel.
Don't tell me what you can't do. Tell me what you will allow God to do through you...by His grace.
Scripture is quite clear...For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we CAN do...
Prayer:
Father,
I pray as Paul prayed, When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. Now all glory to You, God, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
By grace, Paul - former Christian killer - became an apostle.
By grace, Rahab - a harlot - became part of the lineage of Christ.
By grace, David - a shepherd boy who was so NOT impressive that his father didn't even call him to the house when the prophet came - he became king.
By grace - Jacob - a liar and a cheat from a long line of liars and manipulators - inherited God's blessing and God changed his name to Israel.
Don't tell me what you can't do. Tell me what you will allow God to do through you...by His grace.
Scripture is quite clear...For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we CAN do...
Prayer:
Father,
I pray as Paul prayed, When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. Now all glory to You, God, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
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