(G)Leaning on Grace

Not a day passes without a Facebook post, news story, grocery store discussion or workplace debate about the many opposing viewpoints on societal issues. Everyone has an opinion on which they staunchly stand proclaiming to anyone that will listen. Pro-life or pro-abortion, Obamacare or private insurance, gay rights or heterosexual marriages, tax increases or major spending cuts, open immigration or closed borders; all of these are consistently debated in this country by all. Each of these issues have multi-faceted extremely detailed arguments that each side can bring to the table. In my experience, when examining my own viewpoints on many of these issues, I find that my stance has changed with age, life experience and with an ever-growing relationship with God. Differentiations that I once thought trivial are now major players in my decision making process. By taking a hard look at my own choices, I try to understand why someone else feels the way they do on a given subject. While m...

As I was sitting at my desk this morning reading and having my time with the LORD, He brought a friend to my mind. This friend has shared some struggles that he has had in his life confident that I would faithfully lift him in prayer. We talked about shame, guilt, discouragement and rejection. He has been wondering, because of the difficulty in this season of life, if he is experiencing a trial of sanctification or, because of his struggles with doubt, if indeed he is even saved at all. He has read many books containing testimonials about freedom and forgiveness looking to discover their secrets and desperately longing to experience the same thing.  During our original discussion I reminded him that justification, being saved, occurred when he chose Christ as his savior and invited Him into his life. That sanctification is a process not an instantaneous event.  It is an ongoing journey, a transformation toward becoming more like Jesus. Now, I knew my friend was aware of the definitio...

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 ESV This morning, as I spend some time with God, I am continuing the quest to determine the reason behind the fears that plaque my journey toward writing. As I read this mornings daily reading assignment in Acts, this verse really stood out to me. It’s as if God highlighted it, made it jump right off the page and into my heart.  Despite being imprisoned, beaten and warned not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, the disciples did what they knew was right.  Peter’s response speaks volumes beyond mere words. Think about the responses of the powerful in our day. Has much changed in the way we humans respond to the world around us?  In the U.S. we may not be beaten in public or imprisoned, but our freedom to speak is being infringed upon. If we do not hold politically correct views we are considered to be intolerant and closed minded. This points out a primary integral component of a true relationship ...

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) This verse says a lot to me, to us, as Christians who have been accepted, sanctified and strive live by the Word of God. It says that God did not go through all the trouble, make the greatest sacrifice in the history of mankind for us to live timidly. He gave His son, making a pathway to himself so that we would come boldly, confidently and fearlessly t...