From the Blog
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Death to Life
In the book of Ephesians, Paul told the church of Ephesus that although they were dead in their sins, they had been made alive through the grace of Jesus Christ. We too are dead, apart from Jesus, but His grace can make us alive.
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Set Free by Grace
Are you free from slavery to sin? Have you received the grace of Christ which sets you free from sin and sin’s result, which is death? Some have never received this grace and that’s the good news for today. You can be set free because of God’s grace, His free gift of salvation. Many others have received this grace, but aren't living as one who has been set free. Perhaps you have fallen into the trap of legalism. Having received the mercy of God for salvation, you are now trying to live according to your own merit. Having received God’s favor as a gift, you are now trying to earn God’s favor as a goal — as if God’s love is conditional based on your ongoing effort.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatian believers, he challenged them to return to Christ’s grace alone that was able to set them free. The only way to experience true freedom is to cling to Christ’s grace alone. -
Retreat to Advance
Do you feel weary? Do you feel exhausted, or is your strength giving out? What do you do when you feel this way? Do you react by spending more time in bed, or overeating or turn to substances? What coping mechanisms do you use? Most of us do not think of retreating, because we think that means we are quitting. What we will see today is that by retreating, we are actually preparing to advance.
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah taught the Israelites that strength was not the result of their ability or work, but rather the result of their waiting on the Lord. We can experience this renewed strength by waiting on the Lord. -
Weakness to Strength
The world makes heroes of the bold, the beautiful and the strong. Hollywood actors, professional athletes, self-promoting politicians… these are the ones that we elevate to power and influence. They receive glory and praise from the world. But that’s not how God works, He loves to take the humble, the small, and the weak and lift them up to such great influence that everyone gives glory, not to them, but to God.
Where do you feel weak today? Are you hurting? Some may feel tortured by physical or mental pain. Are you feeling inadequate? You don’t have enough money, or you feel inadequate as a parent, or you’ve been asked to do something that seems beyond you. Are you feeling overwhelmed by difficult circumstances? You’re unhappy and discontent. How can God take your weakness and turn it into strength?