redeeming, restoring, accepting >> God’s grace

Those three words have deep meaning for me, and I believe they come from the heart of God. When someone understands that God’s desire is to redeem, restore and to accept them, things will change. Often people believe that God is all about punishment. Some people believe that God is harsh and unloving. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

It was when I knew that God accepts me as I am and where I am that I began to be able to live the abundant life God offers to His kids. In turn when we get the fact that God accepts us we will help others experience God’s love and acceptance.

How can we help other people believe what God says and live in what He says? It is our job to live in and to share truth. It is not our job to make people respond to God.

Our actions ought to acts of redeeming people and seeking to restore them to God and to life. All that happens by and only through God’s grace.

John 8:32 NLT

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

So 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.

The truth will set us free not only to believe what God says but to spend time with God allowing Him to live through our lives. There is great boldness that comes when we let what God says be what we hold on to.

Romans 15:7 NLT

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

Luke 6:37 NLT

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

Accept people as God accepts you. Forgive others as God has forgiven you. By offering forgiveness and God’s love to others we offer redemption from brokenness and pain. I believe that God called us to help others experience the truth of God’s restoring us to life.

Ephesians 3:19 NLT

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

May our words, actions and even our beliefs help us and those around us experience God’s grace which leads us into real redemption, restoration and acceptance.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Search This Blog