grace

The Life of Grace – VOTD.06.04.18

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9

Every true Christian knows that he or she has been born into the family of God by God’s grace alone . . . through faith in Jesus. That truth has been the motivation behind evangelism crusades, social work, and personal witnessing across the centuries. We are sinners. We cannot do a single thing to save ourselves from our deserved punishment of eternal death in hell. 

That’s the way of salvation in a nutshell: You and I are saved by God’s grace alone. We receive God’s grace by reaching out and accepting it by faith (which God will give us according to today’s verses). When this happens, there’s a lens change even for the most socially acceptable of us. What we don’t often see is that such a lens shift is the first of many.

Christians don’t have much trouble agreeing that Salvation is completely and entirely a work of God’s grace. However, the Scriptures teach us that Grace does not end on the day that we reach out and receive God’s gift of Jesus. That is only the beginning work of God’s grace. His grace is instrumental in our continued growth and our daily living. The same grace that God offers to save you and me is the grace that God offers to transform our lives into something that Jesus called, “abundant life” (Jn 10:10). (more…)

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VOTD.04.12.16 No Condemnation: Magdalene

There is NO CONDEMNATION now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free Romans 8:1,2

But the time is coming and is already here, when BY THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT people will worship the Father as he really is, offering him the true worship that he wants. God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is.” John 4:23,24

If this woman who stood accused before Jesus was truly Magdalene, as church tradition tells us, I wonder if she was delivered from 7 demons before or after being dragged into the temple to be used by the spiritual leaders in their ploy to trap Jesus. The Bible doesn’t tell us chronologically when the deliverance happened.

What if she’d already been delivered? How embarrassing. To be delivered, only to fall into sin again, and then face Jesus. Think about it. Wouldn’t it have served the religious leadership’s schemes all the better if they were bringing before Jesus a woman He had previously delivered? It sounds just like the accuser of our souls, doesn’t it? (more…)

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VOTD.04.05.16 Magdalene: True Grace

“Is there no one left to accuse you?” Jesus asked. “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin any more.” John 12:11

It was probably a sunny day in Jerusalem. Blue skies arched over the holy land that morning. The temple was filled with people coming to offer sacrifices. Children ran through the crowds as their parents waited in line, absorbing the process, the teaching, and the ceremony as they played.

A nice day. A beautiful day to come and listen to Jesus teaching. As usual, He had a crowd around Him. Some were curiosity seekers; others disciples. Still others came for the entertainment value. It was a delightful day and they had a large-ish crowd. The disciples must have been happy about that. Numbers were important to them.

There was a vaguely discernible clamor in the distance that somehow seemed at odds with the crisp, clear morning. As Jesus taught, the clamor got louder until suddenly it came right into the temple. The children stopped their play and turned to look. The adults waiting in line with their sacrifices turned to see what the commotion was about. (more…)

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