But By the Grace of God I am What I am

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But  By the Grace  of God  I am  What I am

God’s love  just boggles  the mind.     It is so  incomprehensible  how He can faithfully  keep on  loving us — and trying  to draw us  to Him — in spite  of our sinful past,  and on-going,  daily sins.

Even though  we are all sinners,  we all have  a tendency  to make ourselves  look good  in the eyes  of others  and  in the eyes  of God.     We want  to deny  the seriousness  of our sins  and point  to our “natural goodness”.     After all,  we imagine  that we are good hearted,  properly kind,  living  in the truth,  and really  pretty decent  in all  of our dealings.     But…….  nobody should dare  to point out all  of our failings,  unfaithfulness,  and downright ungodliness.

That would  really make us  bristle up  and get angry.     After all,  we too,  can easily point out  the sins  of others,  so they shouldn’t point  to our sins.

The apostle Paul  lived  in that sort of self-assurred  self-righteousness.     In his mind,  when he persecuted  the early Christians,  he was so sure  he was doing  everything  in righteousness  and God’s service.     But,  having God’s children  tortured  and killed  is terribly evil  and deserving  of eternal punishment.

Nevertheless,  God still loved Paul  and actually chose him  to become  the main apostle  to all the Gentiles.     We can read  about Paul’s conversion  in the book  of Acts.     It demonstrates  God’s grace  to Paul.     But,  even more than that,  the book  of Acts  gives the beginning history  of countless idol worshipers  (heathens)  being given  that same grace  of God.     They had been living  in every imaginable kind  of sin  there is.

But,  God’s grace  was offered  to all  of them, too.

We all  have the same opportunity  to receive  God’s grace  and forgiveness.     We all  have a chance  to give our lives  to God  in faith,  and let His grace  mold us  into His beloved  and perfected children.

Paul  was amazed  at the changes  God made  in his heart  and mind.     Through his God-given understanding  of all  of God’s word,  Paul came  to realize  that this grace  was actually  an Old Testament promise  fulfilled.     By God’s grace,  Paul was able  to leave behind  his horrid past  and look forward  to God’s promises  of salvation,  forgiveness,  and eternal life.

He didn’t have  to feel rejected  because of  his stubborn sins  in his past.     Paul wants us all  to know  that we don’t have  to feel rejected either.     Our past  is past.     God’s grace  wants  to mold us  into His perfected children  through faith  in the shed blood  of Christ Jesus.     So, we too,  can say  with Paul  in 1 Corinthians 15:10,

But  by the grace  of God  I am  what I am,  and His grace  toward me  did not prove vain;  but I labored  even more than all  of them,  yet not I,  but the grace  of God  with me.

We are  what we are  in Christ  by the grace  of God.     Now,  let us labor  to show  what God’s grace  has done  with us.     Don’t let  God’s grace  towards us  be in vain.     We have  the gift  of grace,  let us make  the most  of it.

With our past sins gone,  and our hearts opened  to God’s love,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  thank You  for Your faithful love.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

A 2.67 year old says  I Pledge Allegiance

Pray for our country.

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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …

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Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Yupiq Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect, but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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