Tag Archive | grace

Christ Jesus

Jan22

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; — Romans 1:1-6

In the opening of Paul’s letter it is amazing, to me, what Paul reveals about Jesus. He is:

v.1 Christ which means Messiah
v.2 the promise of God
v.2 Revelation
v.3 Son of God
v.3 God in the flesh
v.4 Holy
v.4 Lord
v.4 Power
v.4 The Resurrection (Savior)
v.5 Our Grace

Paul mentions 3 descriptions of himself. How often in our speech is Jesus exalted above ourselves? He is the reason we speak at all. Are we being good apostles, followers, for His name’s sake?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Conviction And The Gospel

Jan4

And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. — Acts 20:22-24

How strong is your conviction to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Stephen And The Lord

Nov22

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. — Acts 6:8-15

Grace, power, wisdom through the Holy Spirit and seen by others. Is Jesus visible in you?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Concerning Grace

Oct31

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! — Romans 6:14-15

May it never be!? But don’t we take advantage of God’s grace? A gift through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Himself! And then knowingly, blatantly sin, making excuses for our sin? It’s as if we are mocking Him and spitting on Him*.

Let me give you an example that I was convicted by.
[Be Subject to Government] Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Does that include the speed limit? “It’s okay to go over by 5 mph because the police won’t stop you for that”. Doesn’t “Go with the flow of traffic” sound the same as saying “everyone else is doing it”? Are the police our authority or is God and His Word? (If God and His Word, then we ultimately obey the police and the law of the land).

There are many more examples as we travel through our day when we have opportunity to obey or take advantage of God’s grace by not living up to God’s standard but the standard of man. Hopefully we are now more aware of our responsibility concerning the wonderful, sacrificial gift of grace.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

*Mark 10:34

I Never Knew You

Sep29

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ — Matthew 7:21-23

The reality of this verse breaks my heart. I wonder how many who believe they are Christians will hear these words of our Lord when the day comes and they stand before Jesus.

Jesus states here that the one who does the will of the Father will enter heaven. Jesus did the will of the Father. Jesus is our example. Are you practicing the will of the Father or still seeking after your own will and desires? Have you surrendered your life to live for Jesus or are you living for yourself? Are you seeking the will of the Father by searching the scriptures to know His will?

Many who call themselves Christian are hard workers in the church. Some do good to others for the betterment of all. Some are nice, lovely people but are simply playing the game, the Christian game. If I do this or do that I will make it to heaven. But do you seek the Lord? Do you walk minute by minute with Him? Is He your all in all, your everything? Do you know Him?

Are you calling yourself a Christian but still living a sinful life? Do you use the excuse that you are a sinner saved by grace? Christ paid the price so you could be a saint, a saint because of the price Christ paid. Are you still practicing lawlessness? Did Jesus practice lawlessness? NO. We are to strive to be like Jesus and yes because of our sinful nature there will be times when we will fail and sin. But walking closely, obeying the will of God and trusting Him minute by minute we can keep ourselves away from the power of sin over us. So walk in the grace of God as you obey the law and do the will of the Father for His glory.

I really hope you will evaluate your walk with Jesus. Do you know Him? Are you going to hear those dreadful words? I hope not.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Grace Be Yours

Sep21

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. — Ephesians 6:24

Hope your Sunday is filled with worship of our Lord Jesus Christ expressing your incorruptible love for Him. Grace be yours.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Promise: You are His Child

Aug26

which God, who cannot lie — Titus 1:2
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:26
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, — John 1:12

God cannot lie so we are children of God, if through faith in Christ Jesus, we believe in His name. God cannot lie which means we can trust these Words of His. We are His children and this being so we receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

The blessing of being holy and blameless before Him. Having His grace bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ and redemption through His blood. The forgiveness of our trespasses and having made known to us the mystery of His will. Because we are children we receive an inheritance and are sealed in Him (Jesus Christ) with the Holy Spirit of promise.

Those are promises to hang on to, rely on, trust in. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for you so that you can be holy and blameless before God, then you have all these promises bestowed on you. You need not be discouraged. You have hope in these promises. Hang on to them and trust in the One who promises them to you. You can do great and mighty things through Christ when you hang on to His promises.

Go in peace and trust in the everlasting God Almighty and His perfect promises.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon
Bold text found in Ephesians 1:3-14

Live in Grace

Aug17

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain — for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.

God’s timing is always perfect and aren’t we glad that at the acceptable time He listened and helped us on the day of our salvation? Let us not receive this grace in vain. ”Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

Let our talk reflect our walk and our walk give no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, especially the ministry of Jesus in us.

How do we do this? In everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God.
In much endurance by the power of God!

By the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, The armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-17) and prayer. (Ephesians 6:18)

By glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. In every second, minute, hour, day and night of our lives. Serving and encouraging others to live enduring lives, surrendered to Jesus.

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-11

God’s blessing and strength as you put on the armor of God, pray and receive God’s grace and live it with no regrets. Let us not receive God’s grace in vain.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Keep Seeking

Aug11

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. — Colossians 3:1-4

“IF you have been raised up with Christ”, keep seeking, keep seeking . . .
Being in Christ is more than just having the security of heaven eternal. It is a responsibility. We must keep seeking and setting our minds on the things above, “not on the things that are on earth”. What profit is there of the things on earth when they all will be nothing when Christ returns? And compared to the light of His glory they are nothing now.

“And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Seek Him daily in Bible Study and prayer.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

What A Day That Will Be

Jul28

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. — 1 John 3:2

I’m out visiting a friend and her Pastor husband in Illinois this weekend and had the privilege to worship with them yesterday morning and evening. In the morning service Pastor Alan asked the congregation, “Who wants to go to heaven?” Surprisingly, at least to me, was how abnormally quiet it was. Finally someone yelled out “I do, but not yet”. Alan spoke my sentiments when he said that he was ready even if it was today.

I can only imagine what a glorious day that will be when we see Jesus just as He is. I’m anticipating it to be spectacular, wonderful, surpassing all I could possibly imagine. We sang the following hymn also:

What A Day That Will Be

There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;
And forever I will be with the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Are you secure in your everlasting destination? Are you anticipating seeing Jesus face to face? Seek Him while He may be found so you may know what a day that will be!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The lyrics and music to the Gospel song, “What A Day That Will Be” is by Jim Hill.