Romans 1:5-6 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Our Pastor Fil gave a New Year's message this past week titled "My One Word" and in the sermon he encouraged us to choose a word to meditate on and draw from in the coming year. I read another devotional that encouraged the same thing. I thought for a while on what that word should be for me. It came to me this morning in my devotions. It is a common word among Christians but there is nothing "common" about it. It is the word grace.
In the Apostle Paul's opening passage to his magnum opus he speaks of the grace that "we" have received as Christians. Today's verses indicate that His grace will bring about obedience that will have an impact not only on ourselves but others not just among a few, but the potential to impact the nations.
I read the following quote (parentheses/italics mine) from John Piper on "sustaining grace" : "In the next five minutes (or year), you will receive sustaining grace flowing to you from the future, and you will accumulate another five minutes (or year's) worth of grace in the reservoir of the past. The proper response to grace you experienced in the past is gratitude, and the proper response to grace promised to you in the future is faith. We are thankful for the past grace of the last year, and we are confident in the future grace for the new year."
That is the grace that I desire and hope for you as well, grace in the form of gratitude for what God has done for us in the past, leading into the present, and grace in the form of faith for what He will do in and through us for the future, this year, and beyond.
I'll close with a prayer that I read this morning that goes well with the thoughts so far.
"Lord Jesus Christ, give us faith in the power of your love and hope in the victory of your resurrection, that we may live in trust and die in peace." - John Proctor
His grace will provide the power, attitude and the gratitude to be able to do so.
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Romans 1:5-7
The Message (MSG)
2-7 The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.
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