Sola Gratia

Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

This morning as I sit spending some quiet time in study and prayer I am just struck by this thing called Amazing Grace. As I sit here listening to Chris Lizotte singing songs such as Sweet Mercy, The Love of God, and I Will Trust You I am humbled and oh so thankful for the grace of God through Christ in my life.

As I sit here this morning astonished by grace alone I recognize this thing called grace is so amazing, so saving, so reconciling, so wonderful, but it is also so empowering. Augustine reminds us that Grace enables us to “perform with love the duty that they know.” Augustine expands this saying;

“The grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord must be understood as follows: grace is the only thing that delivers human beings from evil; without it, they do absolutely nothing good, whether in thought, or in will and emotion, or in action. Grace not only makes known to people what they ought to do, but also enables them to perform with love the duty that they know.

The apostle Paul certainly asked God to inspire the Corinthians with this good will and action when he said, ‘Now we pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear to be approved, but that you should do what is good’ (2 Cor.13:7). Who can hear this and not wake up and confess that the Lord God is the One Who turns us away from evil so that we do good? For the apostle does not say, ‘We admonish, we teach, we exhort, we rebuke.’ He says, ‘We pray to God that you do no evil, but that you should do what is good.’ Of course, he was also in the habit of speaking to them, and doing all those things which I have mentioned — he admonished, he taught, he exhorted, he rebuked. But he knew that all these things which he was openly doing in the way of planting and watering were of no avail, unless He Who secretly gives the increase answered his prayer on the Corinthians’ behalf. For as the same teacher of the Gentiles says, ‘Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God Who gives the increase’ (1 Cor.3:7).”

Abba Father, we pray that we would do no evil, but that which is good. Gracious God, we pray that we would perform with love and we pray that as we plant and as we water that you would give the increase – all to your glory!

Grace and Peace!

Cause and Effect

Mark 9:24; Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Wikipedia says that cause and effect is the “philosophical concept of causality, in which an action or event will produce a certain response.” I have been thinking about this lately and how it relates to Christians.

Many times our natures drive us to look first to the effect while ignoring or even forgetting the cause. We develop our checklist of effects; you must go to Church, you must believe this, you must believe that and if you do you are a Christian.
I worry in our haste we may be reversing the true order of things. This checklist in reality is the effect of becoming a Christian and we must always first look to the cause; Christ!

Oswald Chambers says; “It is absurd to tell a person one must believe this and that; in the meantime he or she can’t! Skepticism is produced by telling people what to believe. We are in danger of putting the cart before the horse and saying a person must believe certain things before he can be a Christian; his beliefs are the effect of his being a Christian, not the cause of it.”

So in our zeal are we putting the cart before the horse? Are we focused on the task rather than what has been accomplished? Don’t get me wrong, this is not a call to do nothing. However, this is a call to rest in the message of Christ, a call to share the message of the cross with proper focus and not a checklist of effect. It is a call to share the cause of the good news!

1 Corinthians 1:18 reminds us: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

May all who are being saved look first to the cross; the power of God!

Grace and Peace!

Grace is Sufficient

I last posted about doubts which can truly be a thorn in a believer’s side and we examined where to turn which brought to mind Paul’s encouragement from 2 Corinthians 12:9;

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Paul shares that no matter our “thorns”, the grace of God will get us through all things. That is truly a powerful and loving statement; yet how can we be sure of this, how do we find this grace? I truly believe that one way to find this grace and to get through whatever is ailing us is to turn to God’s Word!

Jerry Bridges is so helpful in his book Transforming Grace. He points out that Romans 15:4-5 show the connection between Scripture, God and his grace;

4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus

Bridges points out that verse 4 shows us that we receive endurance and encouragement from scripture and verse 5 shows us that God gives endurance and encouragement. Can you see the vital link of scripture as a means of finding and receiving the grace of God for whatever our need?

Bridges also reminds that Scripture is often called Word of His grace and that God uses Scripture to mediate His grace to each on of us. Bridges quotes R. C. H. Lenski who said; “God and the Word of His grace always go together; God lets His grace flow out through that Word.”

Bridges says; “If we are to appropriate the grace of God, then, we must regularly expose ourselves directly to the Word of God…as the regular eating of proper food is necessary to sustain a healthy physical life, so the regular intake of God’s Word is necessary to sustain a healthy spiritual life and to regularly appropriate His grace.”

So amazing is God’s Word! As Bridges points out it is food for our soul. Bridges also quotes Charles Hodge on the importance of God’s Word. Hodges says; “In opposition…to all the suggestions of the devil, the safe, simple, and sufficient answer is the Word of God. This put to flight all the powers of darkness. The Christian finds this to be true in his individual experience. It dissipates his doubts; it drives away his fears; it delivers him from the power of Satan.”

God’s grace is sufficient for all things; may we all turn to his Word; seeking; yearning; finding His grace.

Grace and Peace!

Prayer of Grace

Heavenly Father, God of Grace,

We humbly come before you today; praising you for all things; praising you that you are a loving God, a God full of grace. Grace that each of us needs as we are so inadequate and unworthy. Father, forgive us our shortcomings and transgressions!

The Psalmist tells us; Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Father, this picture of your grace is truly marvelous in our eyes; that you have opened the gates of righteousness, you have sent our capstone, our very salvation in our Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ and we cry out with thanks. This is the day the Lord made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.

And, we do rejoice. We rejoice and thank you for the work of Christ that we might rest in a restored relationship with you; we thank you for your church and the fellowship of believers. We thank you for this great nation where we are free to worship and we thank you for families, for our youth, for smiles, for joy and for the eternal hope that only you can provide.

Father, we are a blessed people, yet there are still needs and this day we lift up all those facing crisis, illness, and trials; praying for your grace, your healing touch, your comfort and your strength. We lift up those awaiting medical results praying for wisdom for the doctors and positive outcomes and those recovering from surgery praying for encouragement and continual progress.

Lord this day we lift up our nation with seemingly more issues everyday; this nation facing economic trials, security issues, unemployment, healthcare, immigration and now oil leaking in the gulf. Father, we pray that you will hear our cries and grant us your favor as we trust in your sovereignty. We pray for our church leaders, our pastors, our elders, deacons, ministry leaders and their families praying for comfort, encouragement, strength and wisdom.

And Father at this special time of graduation for many of our youth, we pray for our youth. Father, that you will make their paths clear, that you will lead, guide and direct, that you would protect and Father that by your spirit you will use their gifts in amazing ways; ways that honor and glorify you.

Abba Father, we love you, pray your will be done and pray all these many things in the most holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Grace and Peace!

Divine Grace

Recently I have been focused on how wonderful the grace of God truly is! Just because we can rest in God’s grace doesn’t mean things will be better and better. I remember the lesson Paul gives telling us that God’s grace is sufficient for all things; telling us because of God’s grace he would boast in his weakness; telling us that he would be glad about his weakness so that Christ’s power might rest on him (2 Cor 12:9).

That is how amazing Grace really is. It doesn’t mean we won’t have trials, hardships, or troubles. John Calvin said; “For men have no taste for it [God’s Power] till they are convinced of their need of it and they immediately forget its value unless they are continually reminded by awareness of their own weakness”. Think of Paul and all he endured during hist ministry. His attitude and teaching is amazing to me considering all that he experienced. In 2 Corinthians; he says;

10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So to me when we are enduring we are being made strong through Christ! So to know more and more of the Grace of God there will be difficulties. Now, believe me I know that we are all human and sometimes these difficulties can be overwhelming even impossible to overcome however Christ reminds us to take heart because he has overcome this world! Amen.

So whatever we are facing or going through we can trust; we as believers can take heart that that God’s grace is truly sufficient; His love is there. So take heart my friends; no matter what. God’s grace is enough!

Let’s end with Psalm 145:8-9;

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love, The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Abba Father, we praise you that you are gracious and compassionate, full of love and perfectly good. Good and gracious God, we love you.

Grace and Peace!

Overwhelmed with Wonder

Good and Gracious God, In the Psalms we read; “Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty" and Father, this day we humbly come before you praising you for the majesty of your being, the splendor of your love, the mercy of your saving grace. You are so deserving of our praise and worship and we are such an undeserving people. Lord, we confess our many shortcomings and inequities and beg your forgiveness. As we find in Jeremiah, “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." God, you are the one we praise.

Father, we thank you for the many blessings of life. We thank you that you are in our lives, we thank you for your spirit, our comforter and counselor; and we thank you for your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lord you are truly amazing and your Word is truly amazing; a passage in Mark says; “As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him." Father, may we your children be overwhelmed with wonder and never hold back as we run to greet our great Savior.

Father, such a blessed people, yet there are still needs. This day we pray for your Church that it will forever be an expanding beacon of hope and light. We pray for Christians around the world that you would strengthen, inspire and provide unity. We pray for missionaries spreading the good news; praying for comfort, strength and shelter. We pray for this nation as we continue to face uncertainty and trials of many kinds. We pray that you will be with us, that you will lead, guide and direct this nation and that we will be a nation that turns to you for all things. We pray for our leaders that you will provide wisdom and we pray for those serving this country that you will protect and encourage. We pray for families that you will work mightily to preserve; we pray for perfect peace and that love will abound.

Lord, we pray for healing, comfort, opportunity and a mighty movement that will be glorifying to you. Mostly we pray your will be done. Father Abba you are so good, so loving, and so full of grace; may we all be overwhelmed with wonder! We love you and thank you; praying all these things in Jesus most Holy name. Amen

Absolute Ideals and Absolute Grace

This title is inspired by Yancey’s book “The Jesus I never knew” and has really helped to open my mind a little to this thing called Grace. In his book Yancey points out that Jesus never lowers God’s standard in any of his teachings; his response to the young rich man, comments on divorce, money, all moral issues. Yancey points out that;

“Jesus never lowered God’s ideal. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”, he said. “Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Not Tolstoy, not Francis of Assisi, not Mother Teresa, not anyone has completely fulfilled those commands.

Yet the same Jesus tenderly offered absolute Grace. Jesus forgave an adulteress, a thief on the cross, a disciple who had denied ever knowing him. Grace is absolute, inflexible, all-encompassing. It extends even to the people who nailed Jesus to the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” were among the last words Jesus spoke on earth.

Grace is for the desperate, the needy, the broken, those who cannot make it on their own. Grace is for us all.”

I would add that Grace is for us all even those who don’t yet see the need; those who only see the speck in their brother’s eye. Oh, how I need Grace! As we think about absolute ideals and absolute grace can you begin to see that these absolute ideals reveal to us the character and nature of God and give us something to strive for while revealing to us our overwhelming need for absolute grace?

I now more clearly see the chasm between what God is like and my truly broken nature and because of the absolute grace of God through Christ I will endeavor to bridge that gap joyfully; full knowing that I will never quite make it; recognizing full circle the grace and love of God for me, such a undeserving man.

Wow! Grace is truly amazing. I will close today with an excerpt from Spurgeon’s book “All of Grace”:

“"By grace are ye saved." Because God is gracious, therefore sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified, and saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them, that they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy, and grace of God. Tarry a moment, then, at the well-head. Behold the pure river of water of life, as it proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb!

What an abyss is the grace of God! Who can measure its breadth? Who can fathom its depth? Like all the rest of the divine attributes, it is infinite. God is full of love, for "God is love." God is full of goodness; the very name "God" is short for "good." Unbounded goodness and love enter into the very essence of the Godhead. It is because "his mercy endureth for ever" that men are not destroyed; because "his compassions fail not" that sinners are brought to Him and forgiven.”

Amen and Amen – God thank you that your compassion fails not! Father as we think about Your grace help us to “tarry a moment” and help us contemplate Your pure river, Your love, and Your mercy!

Grace and Peace!

Living by Grace

Ever heard the phrase living by grace? Have you ever struggled with what that means for Christians on the path to maturity in Christ? I do; every day. I struggle with what it means and how to apply it to my life; I struggle with, is that what we are really doing in our churches? Now I do understand there will be critics out there that will say where I am about to head is a slippery slope that living by grace might be taken too far; that as Paul writes in Romans 5; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more.

So should we go on sinning so that grace might increase? As Paul answered; By no means! So where does that leave us as we struggle with this concept of living by grace? I think Jerry Bridges says it so well in his book; Transforming Grace. In it he says; “The solution to this problem is not to add legalism to grace. Rather, the solution is to be so gripped by the magnificence and boundless generosity of God’s grace that we respond out of gratitude rather than sense of duty.”

He then quotes Steve Brown, former pastor of Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church; “The problem isn’t that we made the gospel too good. The problem is that we didn’t make the gospel good enough.” Isn’t that an amazing thought? We don’t give God’s grace the understanding and right standing it deserves; a position where we are “gripped” by its magnificence; a position where we never take the grace of God for granted responding out of loving gratitude.

What I worry about, what I wonder about, what I struggle with is how are we as Christians living by grace and sharing this “good news”? Are we so concerned about taking this gift of grace for granted that we begin to add requirements for living by grace? Is that where our teaching, sharing and even preaching is headed?
Bridges adds to this thought; “We have loaded down the gospel of the grace of God in Christ with a lot of “oughts”. “I ought to be more committed, more disciplined, more obedient.” When we think or teach this way, we are substituting duty and obligation for a loving response to God’s grace…Steve Brown was right. We often don’t make the gospel good enough. We preach grace to the non-Christian and duty to the Christian.”

Is that where we are headed? Or can we by grace come to grips with this indescribable gift and give the grace of God its’ proper position. Bridges points out that as Christians we do have a duty and obligation to God, but that our motivation should not be fear, rather our motivation should be sincere, loving gratitude for the mercy of God through Christ.

Martin Luther once wrote, “A lawdriver insists with threats and penalties; a preacher of grace lures and incites with divine goodness and compassion shown to us; for He wants no unwilling works and reluctant services, He wants joyful and delightful services of God.

To live by the grace of God is an amazing thing, a comforting thing, a hopeful thing. Don’t you think that as we begin to see and understand this thing called grace, that as we begin to live in this thing called grace, our excitement should build, our loving gratitude should over come us and we should shout from the rooftops about the grace of our God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As we read in 2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

God, may we all begin to recognize this amazing gift of grace and may we all be gripped by the magnificence of your grace. May we all endeavor out of loving gratitude to share the gospel message of grace; Abba, Father, we love you.

Grace and Peace be yours in abundance!

Jesus Paid It All

I recently had a deep conversation with a very good friend. During this chat we discussed the perception that deep down people are pretty good. That when you boil it all down most people had a good, loving, and helpful nature; some might call this moral relativism (I’m OK, Your OK). This has caused me pause. I have thought about this deeply. It causes me to worry! Oops… But if that is the attitude, how can we truly understand just how indebted we are to the God of the universe, just how much we really need saving, just how much we are in dire need of the transforming grace of our Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ?

So we must strive to understand our nature; King David helps us with Psalm 51:5;

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

And Paul writes in Romans 3;

10As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." 14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15"Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know." 18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

So if we can let go of the post modern perception of the nature of man, perhaps we can begin to come to grips with the totality of our broken natures, our rebellion against God. Maybe we can better come to grips with our hopeless state. To paraphrase Jerry Bridges in Transforming Grace says; “Sin, in the final analysis, is rebellion against the sovereign Creator, Ruler, and Judge of the universe. Sin is not only a series of actions; it is also an attitude that ignores the law of God. But it is even more than a rebellious attitude. Sin is a state of heart, a condition of our inmost being. It is a state of corruption, of vileness, yes, even of filthiness in God’s sight.”

Now you might be thinking just where in the world are you heading with this, but I feel we must really understand our true natures and the debt we have incurred. As we do that we will come to understand and appreciate our need of a savior (we can’t save ourselves), our need to be rescued, a need for someone to bail us out (pay our debt). Bridges goes on to say; “But, because of His grace, God did not consign us all to hell; instead, He provided a remedy for us through Jesus Christ. The meaning of Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, then, is that Jesus by His death turned aside the wrath of God from us by taking it upon Himself. As He hung on the cross, He bore our sins in His body and endured the full force of God’s wrath in our place.”

Can you see it? Can you let yourself feel the emotional impact of God’s grace through Christ and begin to understand the price that was paid? Thank you Jesus.

The older I get the more emotional I seem to get. I still get tearfully grateful when I really come to grips with the price that Jesus paid for each of us. I still get a little teary eyed with certain music and this whole subject brings to mind one of my favorite hymns; Jesus Paid It All. Any of you every heard it? Well it is a snappy tune, but there is so much more to hymns and there can be a deep meaning that should be reflected upon. In the case of Jesus Paid It All let’s try to find some scriptural reference beginning with Psalm 103:1-5;

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

And how about Isaiah 1:18;

18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Or how about John 3:16-17;

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Can you begin to see the love our God has for us? Can you see this love is unfailing, patient, kind? Can you begin to feel the emotion deep inside; the love for our God and our Savior and our Comforter? Can you being to feel the gratitude well up inside. If you have five minutes watch this great hymn performed by Kristian Stanfill during the Passion Tour.

Merciful God, we thank you so much for loving such an undeserving creation, we thank you so much that Jesus paid it all; may we all come to understand with eternal awe and gratitude the magnitude of that sacrifice.

Grace and Peace!

Grace Notes

I recently heard Philip Yancey discuss being a grace note in other people’s lives. That really hit home with me and could give us all a perspective for reflection. Yancey meant that when we are confronted with some of life’s difficulties (even trivial stuff) we can react with grace becoming not only an example, but also demonstrating love to our neighbors.

The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms defines grace as “unmerited favor”. I love that. I read somewhere that there is a term in music called grace notes and I read a description that it is the most wonderful sound. So what if we all took the challenge to become grace notes to those we interact with?

In 2 Corinthians 4:15 we see; All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Perhaps by being grace notes there is a benefit to others, as well as to us with the glory going to God. Sounds good, but...easier said than done. With all this in mind I began to wonder, do I provide grace notes to those I interact with? Humbly I must answer not very often.

Recently I had the opportunity. I was sitting stopped at a red light in my car, listening to my favorite tune and life was good. All of a sudden someone bumped me from behind. I get out to survey for damage and the truck is still pressed solidly against my bumper. I walk back to the truck and notice a man on his cell phone still talking. He looks at me and says “did I hit you”? I was beside myself and proceed to pretty much scream at him saying yes you hit me!

There was no real damage, but I could have handled it so differently; I never even considered that he could have been getting tragic news on the phone or what kind of day he was having. I could have been a grace note and treated him with unmerited favor causing this man to think just how can you be joyful during a trying time. Perhaps if I had been a grace note in that man's life, then that man would go and act as a grace note in someone else’s life.

Not too graceful, but you know there is hope. Not too long ago I wouldn’t have even given my actions a second thought, but now by the “grace” of God I see my shortcomings and perhaps next time I will provide that grace note for someone else all to the glory of God. Perhaps these grace notes will spread exponentially…just think!

God, thank you for your unmerited favor in our lives; thank you for the transforming grace of Jesus Christ that is marvelous beyond words and may we all begin to act as grace notes in the world!

Grace and Peace!

The Emotion of Denial

This year as Easter approaches I am feeling many emotions; some might say struggling with emotion. As such, I think it is quite fitting and amazing that our business after-hours Bible Study was covering John 18 and just this week we focused on the denial of Christ by Peter. As we dug deep, we cross referenced over to Luke 22:54-62 and something stuck us. We saw something we had never seen before (revealed?). We were all struck by the emotion of the denial; both the emotion of Christ and Peter. In the passage you must look close. As we read in Luke;

54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." 57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. 58A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. 59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." 60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Did you see it? It’s there in verses 61 and 62. After being seized and led to the high priest’s house for interrogation and persecution and after Peter denies Christ three times the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Can you feel the emotion of this event, can you imagine the hurt, the sorrow, the remorse, and yes the love.

In his commentary on this verse Hendriksen says; “when Peter heard the crowing of the rooster, and saw Jesus looking at him with eyes full of pain, yet also of pardon, his memory of Christ’s warning prediction was suddenly awakened.”
Then in verse 62 we see Peter’s emotion just explode as he moves outside and weeps bitterly. Hendriksen continues his explanation; “Peter goes out and weeps as only he can weep: bitterly, profusely, sorrowfully, his heart being filled with genuine regret for what he has done.”

I know this short blog can’t do this justice, but can you begin to feel the emotion of this denial. We can see that Peter weeps because he let Jesus down and by his denial he has added to the pain and suffering of Christ. But wait; don’t we all do the same thing? Don’t we deny in our thoughts, actions and deeds? Don’t we deny every time we slip and as such shouldn’t we all weep with sorrow and remorse.

But, there is good news as we see through Peter’s example; by grace we are forgiven, by grace we are saved! So, every time we deny, let’s remember that Christ; full of love and grace it looking straight at us! As we like Peter are suddenly awakened, may we weep, may we cry out for the amazing grace of our Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ!

Grace and Peace

Shine Like Stars

Our home fellowship group is studying the book of Philippians and what a wonderful study it is. Philippians is one of the shortest, but most joyful and instructive books. James Montgomery Boice describes Philippians and reminds us that even though Paul was facing possible execution for his faith; “no book in the Bible is so filled with joy as Philippians. Yet Philippians is not just for people who are feeling discouraged – or even joyful. It is a rich book with a great wealth of themes. There are only 104 verses in Philippians. But in that short scope most of the major doctrines of the Christian faith are covered, and there are many profound statements of Christian love, hope, aspiration, joy and confidence.”

Our group is currently studying Chapter 2 and gaining great insight. There are many great truths here, but three verses have just stuck with me. You have to stop and really reflect on this passage. Look at every word, think, pray, read it again. The verses are 14 through 16;

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

What an amazing passage. Great instruction for those set apart; great instruction indeed, but so difficult to achieve. Look at verse 14; Do everything without complaining or arguing. How many of us can achieve that? I heard a pastor giving a sermon on this passage and he shared an illustration that Rabbis use in their teaching.

It is the story of two young men on the exodus with Moses and as the Red Sea is parted the two young men are trudging their way across and notice that their sandals are becoming caked with mud and begin to complain; all they can see is the mud and the mire. Their heads are down when all they have to do is look up and see the wonder of God’s grace, mercy, and love. All they have to do is look up and see the miraculous walls of water allowing their exodus.

So as we run and labor through this crooked and depraved generation, may we all look up! As we deal with life, families, work, neighbors instead of seeing the mud and mire; let’s look up and notice the great Christian hope! The hope provided by the sacrifice of Christ. Every breath we breathe, every blessing we receive, every step we take is a gift from God.

I am reminded of Psalm 40;

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.


With such a firm place to stand may we all “Shine like Stars”!

Grace and Peace!