06/26/2023
Are we reluctant to claim the grace of God in all aspects of our Christian life? Do we attempt to walk the Christian way but only call on the grace of God when we stumble or face hardship? If so, then we are not trusting in Him, and our prayers are not without ceasing.
“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ESV
The apostle Paul tells us that now is the time to claim the prize! He calls on us to work with Jesus and to receive the grace of God NOW! As I think back on my days, I realize that I have often attempted to walk through them by handling things on my own.
I have a grandchild that loved to do things on his own when he was a young. No matter what the occasion, whether it was feeding himself as a baby, not wanting to hold your hand as he learned to walk, working alone at putting together a puzzle as a youth, or doing any of a million other tasks, he always wanted to do it himself. In so doing he took a number of unnecessary falls, and suffered through hardship unnecessarily. Our first inclination is to be proud of a child that takes the initiative and faces life head-on, but as grandparents we feel frustrated in not being able to help them do those things, and feel left out when we could have been working with them as they struggle to find the pieces of life’s puzzle. In truth, we feel closest to them in those rare times when headstrong children allow us to help, or play with him... this is where memories and relationships are built. I look back on my own childhood and lovingly recall the times I did things with my father... not the ones in which he was merely an observer, but when we did those things together. These memories are precious to me.
God wants us to receive His assistance and grace, and take His help and instruction lovingly in everything we do. In this way we are growing closer in all things, and He is a part of our every joy and sorrow. To do this requires us to place Him above ourselves, to be obedient to His commands, and to pray without ceasing. When we do these things His love is not frustrated and our love for Him blossoms.
As I have grown in faith and in years, I find myself praying aloud more often. I hear myself talking to God as if I were talking to my best friend, and to myself. In so doing, I have come to the realization that God and I are closer than I ever dreamed possible... despite the fact that sometimes people around me might think "that old man is a little off his rocker. Who is he talking to?" This is praying without ceasing. This is spending every moment of every day with Our Savior and Holy Father. This is the relationship God desires us to have with Him, and this is the process of accepting God's grace in everything we do. The Lord didn't defeat sin and death for us and then walk away saying "call me if you need me!" He doesn't want us to live out our lives alone and only reach out to Him when things get too rough to handle on our own... He loves us too much for that! He wants an every minute of every day relationship. Did you ever stop to think that God is expressing His love for us in the things we allow Him to do for us? He is no different than I am with my grandson… I take great joy in helping him.
In Second Corinthians, Paul speakers about what it means to be a Christian and in each of these things we find the grace of God. Each of them can only be achieved by allowing The Father, Son, or Holy Spirit to work with us in them. This is more than a set of goals... it is a relationship in the making... a photo album being filled with the pictures of a life with God... a million prayers spoken aloud by old men and women to the Father who walks every step beside them. This is a lifetime of learning a single lesson... God didn't give you His Grace; He is ALWAYS giving you His grace.
“But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 KJV
Are we an obstinate child, or one who wants to do all things with our Heavenly Father?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for being with me now in all I do, and in every breath I take. I thank you for everything in my life; the good, the bad, the happy, and sad... because each has brought us closer together. I thank you Father for teaching me that life is not just a journey towards you, but with you, and that your Grace was not a onetime gift, but surrounds me always. As we talk throughout the day I pray, and in my prayers I am allowing your grace to fill me, and your Word to lead me onward in my faith. Holy Father, you are more than just a distant light before me, you are my constant companion, my champion, my counselor, my savior, and in every aspect of life you never abandon me, nor I you. I praise you always and pray as Jesus taught us to pray... His life is my guide and His sacrifice my redemption... in Him I find the name in which to pray, and in Him I find my rest in you.
Rich Forbes