Grace to You and Peace

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Grace to You and Peace

Galatians 1:3-4

Grace to you and peace  from God our Father,  and the Lord Jesus Christ,  who gave Himself  for our sins,  that He might deliver us  out of this present evil age,  according to the will  of our God and Father.

Grace is the unmerited love and favor  of God Almighty  towards mankind.     It is God’s good will and mercy — all His spiritual blessings  that help make us pure  and morally strong.

When we come  to the realization  of how deeply  God loves us  in Jesus Christ,  His grace is working  in our hearts — bringing light  to our darkened lives.     Before knowing Christ,  there is no real hope  for the future,  or love,  or real reason for being.     Then,  when we understand  that the Creator of all things,  the Almighty,  has redeemed our futile lives  and lovingly gives us the hope  of eternal life  in Jesus Christ — it’s like a light goes on.

There is a purpose  to all that is happening.     There is a way out  of all this futility.     That Way is Jesus Christ.     In John 14:6  Jesus says,

I am the way,  and the truth,  and the life;  no one comes  to the Father,  but through Me.

Through God’s grace,  He sent Jesus  to suffer and die  to pay for our sins.     When we know how beloved we are  (even in our messed up lives),  being loved  enables us  to begin loving the way God wants us  to love.     “We love,  because He first loved us.”   (1 John 4:19)

As we begin honestly loving  according to the love of God,  we begin leading  godly lives.     Our more godly lives show  that He has delivered us  “out of this present evil age”.     The life styles  of this world  are no longer appealing.     As a matter of fact,  they are now repugnant  and seen as senseless and worthless.

Being loved,  we want to reach  our heavenly home,  which is filled  with love and glory  forever and ever.     Now,  all goodness,  purity,  and holiness is greatly desired  because it is the essence  of our Savior,  who so dearly loves us.     It is true  that we are still sinners — but,  we are sorry for our sins  and do our best  to control the sinful natures  within us,  for the sake of God’s love  in Christ Jesus.

It is  “the will  of our God and Father”  that we desire  to be rid of all sin  in our lives  and strive to live  according to His love.     God knows our weaknesses  and has promised  to strengthen us  as we lean upon Him  for all our needs.     He will help us  to walk  in His ways.

The more we look to God,  the more He will give us the peace  and comfort  of knowing  we are  in His loving hands — and that the suffering  and death  of Jesus  thoroughly washes away  all our sins.

In fellowship  with our heavenly Father and Savior,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Thank you,  Lord,  for Your gracious love  and faithfulness  in bringing us  to Your salvation  in Jesus Christ.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

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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