Yesterday was our celebration and conclusion of the 30 Days to Live series at The Community Fellowship. It was awesome. We used "cardboard testimonies" along with many folks sharing how the Lord has turned their lives toward Him. I am always, always touched by how people meet God and how He rocks their world and mine.
On a person note, I need to say we have the greatest people at The Community. Thanks for all the notes, gifts and words of appreciation. It means much to me and to my family!
I talked about how we have been changed by the grace of God, and this morning I came across this simple phrase - "but by the grace of God". Question: where would you be without the grace of God? Would you even be alive? How about jail or in some kind of trouble? All of us can use that phrase and thank God for His amazing and unending grace. Here are the points we talked about:
Romans 8:1 (nasb) --- there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
We Are Free by Grace
That is one awesome truth that we so rarely get our minds and lives around. So much so that it leads us to this second thought:
John 10:10 (nasb) --- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
People, far too often we crawl back in the same whole that God pulled us out of. Hear what Paul said about it:
Galatians 5:1 (nlt) --- So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.
We head back to the sins, the habits, the worries and troubles and the bondage that Jesus took is out of. Why? It is because we do not apply, live by and share His grace.
Finally, We Fall !!!
We are fallen people. We need God's help or His endless grace.
James 4:6 (nasb)--- But He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Here are some verses we talked about. Before you read them, let me tell you that they don't talk us loosing our salvation. They are about us leaving the grace of God to live by the law or by being a legalist.
Galatians 5:4 (nlt) --- For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace.
We have to live by God's grace. Nothing more and nothing less. We need to understand that God deals with us based on His grace, and we are now to deal with others based upon that same kind of grace. What happens when we do? People see Jesus.
Ask yourself .... ask others .... what would be different 'but by the grace of God'?
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