Grace Working in Us

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ".

—2 Thessalonians 1.11, 12

Read the context of verses 3-10 to see that Paul had "in mind" how God grows our faith so that we endure trial and because God is just in His holiness He will punish evil and reward those who persevere with His grace. As we pray for whatever requests we have may we be open to how God will work in us!

Standing for and Living Lives of Grace, Graciously

As I was preparing for next week's sermon on Galatians 1.11-2.14 I thought of an interesting juxtaposition between the kind of graciousness in the William Barclay quote below and standing up for grace. In Galatians, Paul accounts of standing up to Peter for the freedom of grace i.e., not adding Jewish works to salvation. We cannot possibly speak the truth in love without the Holy Spirit's leading us to do so graciously. Paul accounts for this later on in chapter 5 with the fruit of the Spirit. Even in difficult matters, standing for Jesus is to be done in such a way that we can be called peace makers (see Matthew 5.9). May we reflect the beauty of Jesus' calling us by grace by standing for and living lives of grace, graciously!

The Great Need for Graciousness

"...live in such a way that loveliness and the graciousness of the truth is plain for all to see. The defeat of error depends not on skill in controversy but in the demonstration in life of the more excellent way."

—William Barclay
commentary on 2 Timothy 3.8, 9

Love, Faithfulness, Righteousness & Peace

"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other" Psalm 85.10.

Praise the Lord, that Jesus our Emmanuel reveals the compassion and loving kindness of our great heavenly Father (John 15.13-17)! Praise the Lord, that the Holy Spirit our advocate reveals the holiness sanctifying work of our amazing heavenly Father (John 16.13-15 & 17.17)!

“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Jesus finishes his parable of the sower with these words (Matthew 13.1-23). When the disciples don't get the point (Luke 8.9 & Mark 4.10,11) Jesus quotes Isaiah 6. Ah, the seeing and hearing but not understanding line…what!?

I've been reading a collection of sermons on the gospel of John by AW Tozer titled And He Dwelt Among Us. In chapter 3 Tozer discusses the notion that Jesus made the world and yet the world does not recognize Him (John 1.10). Ah, the seeing and hearing but not understanding line.

The parallel and Tozer's writing are so beautiful I had to ask Regal Books for, and was granted, permission to post the chapter on our church web site. Here's the link to the Windborn Church site. Ah, may the seeing and hearing but not understanding line NOT apply to us as we listen and obey with following when our Good Shepherd calls us by name!