Tag: Discipleship

Examples of Grace 03

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

More examples of God’s grace (undeserved favor) from Genesis:

Jacob speaks of God as the one who answered him in his distress.  Jacob was not the most faithful follower, yet God answered him – that is grace.  We aren’t always the most faithful followers either, yet how many times has God answered us in our distress?  Grace….

Again and again we read that God was with Jacob and Joseph, and so he favors us with his presence – especially through the trials of life.

God graciously sent Joseph to Egypt to supply for the needs of his family during the coming famine.  How many times has God graciously supplied for us?

And then there is God’s sovereign grace that weaves the circumstances of our lives for our good.  How many times did Joseph wonder why he had been sold into slavery, why he had been cast into prison?  But God was graciously working in his life through those trials, preparing him for his ultimate task.  Without the trials, he would have never been raised up to rule in Egypt, never saved his family (and countless others) from the famine.  In the midst of our trials, may we remember God’s sovereign grace – who knows how God will use our difficulties for good.  Who knows how God will bring good out of the mess in Haiti.  God is an expert at bringing something good out of messes.  That he cares to do so – that’s grace.

Favor With God

On By BrianIn Book of Luke

An angel comes to Mary and greets her with the words, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you.”  The angel continues, “you have found favor with God.”

Indeed she was favored and found favor with God, for she was given the incredible privilege to bear the Savior of the world.  This is all of grace.  The Greek word translated twice as favor is usually translated as grace.  It is by God’s grace upon her life that she received this privilege.  It was not her own works, her own goodness, her own merit that earned her this privilege.  No it was grace – she found favor with God.

And so it is with us.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been given the incredible privilege of knowing the Savior of the world, of receiving his great salvation that he purchased for us on the cross, of being raised to a new life through his resurrection, and of having the certain hope of our own resurrection someday.  It is not our own works, our own goodness, our own merit that earns us this privilege.  No it is grace – we have found favor with God.

(Taken from Luke 1)

Do We Believe?

On By BrianIn Book of Luke

The angel came to Zechariah with a word from the Lord.  Zechariah would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah.  His prayers for a child and the coming Messiah would be answered.

But Zechariah refused to believe.  “I’m too old!  My wife is too old!  How could we have a child?”  And Zechariah is struck dumb because of his unbelief.  He refused to believe God’s word that his prayers were answered and that the Messiah was coming.

What about us?  Do we believe?

When we pray, do we pray believing that God will answer our prayers.  Do we pray believing he can answer our prayers?  He may choose to answer in ways unforseen to us, but do we believe he will and can answer prayer?  Are we surprised when he does?  Are we praying with faith or just mouthing unbelieving words?

When the Word of the Lord comes to us, do we believe what it says?  Do we believe that the commands in Scripture are God’s words to us that we should obey?  Do we believe the many promises of God that we find in his Word?  “I am with you always.”  “God is our refuge and strength.”  “My grace is sufficient for you.”  Do we come to the Word with faith or do we just come?

When the Scriptures promise that Jesus is coming back, do we believe that he is really coming?  Do we believe it could be today?  Do our lives reflect this belief, or do our lives reflect disbelief in his return?

It is easy to put Zechariah down for his unbelief, but don’t we at times struggle in the same way?

Father, help us to grow in our faith!

(From Luke 1)

Hope Is Dawning

On By BrianIn Book of Luke1 Comment

For 400 years the people of Israel had been waiting for the coming of the Messiah.  The prophets had foretold his coming, and the people waited, longing for his coming.  Would he come in their lifetime?  In their children’s?  Grandchildren’s?  How long?

Finally, the fist glimmers of light appear.  Their hope dawns as an angel appears to Zechariah.  Zechariah and his wife will have a son in their old age.  Their son will prepare the way for the Messiah.

The Messiah came, lived, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven.  Now we wait for the Messiah to come again as foretold by the prophets, and the apostles, and the Messiah himself.  Are we longing for his coming?  Might he come in our lifetime?  In our children’s?  Grandchildren’s?

And as we wait for our hope to dawn, are we as his church preparing the way for his coming?  Are we a proclaiming the good news of Jesus, preparing people for his return?

(From Luke 1)

Examples of Grace 02

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

In my second week in Genesis, examples of God’s grace continued to shine forth.

By grace, God promised Abraham a son and kept his promise.  How many promises God has given to us – and he will keep every one.

God rescued Lot from Sodom.  When Lot lingered, the angels pulled him out, “the Lord being merciful to him.”  God protected Sarah when Abraham and Sarah lied about her being his wife.  How often does God graciously protect and help us despite our own stupidity!

When God tested Abraham, telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac, God ultimately provided a substitute sacrifice.  God has provided a substitute for us – Jesus who died for our sins.  We deserved condemnation, but God’s grace intervened.

God graciously guided Abraham’s servant and answered his prayer as he went to find a wife for Isaac.  As we look back in our lives, how many examples can we see of God’s guidance and answered prayer?

God promised that his presence would be with Isaac, and then with Jacob.  What a glorious example of his  grace to us that he would desire to be with us!

Jacob’s words should well sum up our own thoughts as we see God’s grace in our lives – “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant.”  We are not worthy – it is all God’s grace!

(Taken from Genesis 18-33)

Examples of Grace 01

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

One of my goals this year is to reflect on God’s grace.  To that end, as I read through the Bible, I am recording examples of grace, and seeking to ponder how those examples relate to my life.  My first week yielded the following examples of grace:

God created the world.  He give us life, our very existence.  He gives us a beautiful world to live in.  He gives us food to eat.  He gives us rest.  He gives us companionship.  None of these things are earned or deserved, they just flow from his grace.

Adam and Eve sinned, messing up this beautiful world God had made.  Yet, though marred, the beauty still often shines through.  God clothed Adam and Eve – a gift of grace, and he clothes us as well – with physical clothes, and even better – with Christ’s righteousness as we believe.

God provided an ark to save Noah and his family from the floodwaters of God’s just judgment.  God provides us with the cross to save us from the fires of God’s just judgment.

God provided animals for food for Noah’s family.  He placed a rainbow in the sky as a promise to never flood the whole earth again.  This provision and promise extends to me.

God showered his grace upon Abraham, promising him land, descendents, and that he would be a blessing to all the nations, and through Christ that blessing extends to me.

God chose Isaac to receive the blessings of Abraham, and for some reason I’ll never understand, he has chosen me to receive the blessings of Christ.

The Scriptures proclaim God’s grace, and it is in that grace that we stand.  All of grace.

(Taken from Genesis 1-17)

Top Books in 2009

On By BrianIn Book Look2 Comments

I have enjoyed reading the top reads from others during the past few weeks, so I thought I would compile my own list of top books that I read in 2009.  All of them encouraged me to live with a passion for God and compassion for others because of Christ’s passion for us.

1. When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper

What about when I don’t have a passion for God?  This book gives some great help to those of us who struggle with finding joy in God.

2. You Are The Treasure That I Seek by Greg Dutcher

How do we fight the many idols that seek to steal our passion for God?  This book has some great ideas.

3. Christless Christianity by Michael Horton

A good reminder that Christianity is first of all about good news, not good instruction; about what Christ did for us, not what we do for him,  about his passion for us, not our passion for him.  The second is our response to the first, and we must be wary lest we forget the first.

4. George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore

Whitefield had a passion for God and compassion for people because of Christ’s passion for us.  He spanned the 13 colonies, England, and Scotland preaching the good news.  I read 3 biographies about George Whitefield last year, and this was the best.  Looks like Crossway is releasing a new edition in March.

5. Finally Alive by John Piper

A good understandable examination and needed reminder of what it means to become a new creation in Christ.

6. Worldliness edited by C.J. Mahaney

A much needed call to discernment in the areas of the media, music, things, and clothes.  The main question is – where is your heart?

All of Grace

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous2 Comments

A couple of posts ago, I noted that our new years resolutions rest on God’s grace in order for us to see them come about.  As we begin this new year, it is a good reminder for me that all of life rests on God’s grace.

Every blessing comes by God’s grace.  Psalm 145:8-9 tells us that God is gracious and good to all.  Every good thing we have is because of God’s goodness and grace.  Food, clothing, shelter, health, breath, presents under the Christmas tree, job, safety – all of this and so much more flows out of God’s incredible grace to us.  This is often called common grace.

None of these things are deserved.  We need to recognize that.  Sometimes we get upset if God refuses or removes a blessing.  We think we deserve it.  It is our right to have it.  But Scripture is clear we don’t deserve anything good.  We are sinners.  We have gone astray.  Even our best deeds are like filthy rags.  We deserve death.  (Isaiah 53:6, 64:6, Romans 3:23, 6:23)

But God not only pours out common grace, he offers us saving grace.  He offers us forgiveness and cleansing from all our sins.  He offers us the hope of heaven and the resurrection.  He offers us a new life.  He offers us adoption as his children.  He offers us his Spirit in our lives.  None of this is deserved.  We can’t earn it, work for it, merit it.  All we can do is receive it by faith.  It is all grace.  (Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-10)

But his grace doesn’t end there.  God gives us the grace to be holy – to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives (Titus 2).  He gives us the grace to serve him in various ways (Romans 12:6).  And it is his grace that should motivate us to be holy and to serve (Romans 12:1-2).  THe Christian life is by grace too.

But what about the trials in life?  Where is God’s grace there?  It comes in the form of strength to endure.  In our weakness, God graciously gives us his strength (2 Corinthians 1:9-10).

Maybe you know all of this, and like me just need a reminder.  Maybe these thoughts are new to you.  All of life is by grace.  Every blessing and the strength to endure every trial is grace.  Salvation from beginning to end, including the Christian life, is grace.  All of grace.

This year I am planning to read through the Bible reflecting on God’s grace as I go.  I am also planning to read some good books about God’s grace.  I hope to share what I find with you on this blog throughout the year.  I want to know God’s grace better this year, and I hope you will know it better too.  Life really is all of grace.  Lord, open our eyes.

Resolution Questions

On By BrianIn Habit of Stewardship, Holidays

As I mentioned in the last post, I take time at the new year to evaluate where I am and where I would like to go in the coming year.  In examining my life, and considering how I need to grow, it is helpful to have some good questions to ponder.  Donald Whitney has given us 31 great questions to consider at the beginning of a new year.  A sampling includes:

  • What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
  • What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
  • In what spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
  • What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
  • What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

For all 31 questions, visit his site here.

New Years Resolutions

On By BrianIn Habit of Stewardship, Holidays

Every year I make some new years resolutions.  I start by evaluating where I am, and pondering where I would like to be and how I would like to grow.  I then seek to make several resolutions which are broken down into two main categories that follow the theme of this blog and my life.

The first category is “To live with a passion for God and compassion for people.”  Under this category, I have the the following sub-points:

  • By setting my gaze on Christ and spending time with God as his loving child
  • By spending time with my family as a loving husband and father
  • By spending time with others
  • By focusing on Christ’s passion for me (salvation)
  • By living out the commands of love (10 commandments)
  • By living out the virtues of love (Fruit of the Spirit plus others)
  • By practicing the habits of love (spiritual disciplines)

Each sub-point then has a few specific resolutions that I want to live out during the coming year.  Some will be new; others will simply be something I want to continue or improve.

The second category is “To help people and families live with a passion for God and compassion for people.”  Again there are subpoints with specific resolutions under each.  My subpoints are:

  • By discipling my own family
  • By serving in my local church
  • By writing resources for individuals, families, and churches
  • By teaching in various settings as opportunities arise
  • By pursuing continued learning opportunities

I share all of this to perhaps encourage you to evaluate your life, and consider how you might better live and help others live with a passion for God and compassion for people.  Your subpoints may look very different (especially in the second category), and your resolutions will likely be very different (you’ll notice I didn’t even include them), but the point is to evaluate where you are and where you might grow.

A few final thoughts.  First, it is easy to go through all of this and then put your resolutions away and forget them.  I’ve done this.  Don’t do this!  Keep them out where you can see them and review them regularly.

Second, my two categories and their subpoints are very general – the resolutions themselves must be specific so you know if you are accomplishing anything.  At the same time, leave room for adjustments and changes during the year.  Some ideas simply might not work.  God may call you in different directions than you had planned.  Feel free to edit your resolutions during the year.

Third,  don’t bite off more than you chew.  I have a lot of subpoints, but many of my resolutions are to simply to continue what I am doing or change my focus a bit.  Only a few resolutions will be really new.

Finally,  bathe the entire process in prayer and keep praying through it during the year.  It is only be God’s grace that we can grow, so come regularly to the throne of grace to find his grace in your need to grow.

May we grow this year in living and helping others live with a passion for God and compassion for people – because of Christ’s incredible passion for us!