The Exchange of Grace

"Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?"

Romans 6:1

Paul is definately sarcastic.

The point here is that I need to be aware that I traded in my life for a Holy substitute. I cannot live my life as the rest of the world and lean on the infinite grace of God. I must ask Jesus to help me subdue the power of the flesh. I must stay away from those things keeping me from him.

Understanding Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Human logic runs so far away from His. I think that if I want to be strong, I must strive to be strong. If  I want victory, I must exert power. He makes it clear that my victories must come from His hands, not mine. And for Him to be glorified in my victories, His hands must be  visible.

I fight from a position of strength - in Him - but in a natural state of weakness so that His demonstration of power will not be clouded by my own resources and feeble self-efforts. I am strongest when I am weak.

I have no power from God unless I live in the persuation that I have none of my own.

Life in the Spirit

"After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

Galatians 3:3

It is very easy for me to attempt to do things, even God's things, under my own strength. But I can't do it. Jesus was very clear about it: "Apart from me you can do nothing." [John 15:5]

I must not set my eyes on the result of the Christian life, because if I do, I will forget the means to get there.

Jesus did not come into the world to make me better, He came here to make me new.

I know what a mature Christian looks like: they have the fruits of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23]. But what I can forget easily is that I am totally dependent on God to obtain theses fruits. No amount of human effort can fulfill His laws.

External Fruit

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:3

God plants His Spirit within me - I have the eternal Son of God in my being by faith. There should be in my character and lifestyle a clear correspondence to Him.

The fruit of my spirit is not just internally recieved, but should be externally expressed.

Our actions disclose what goes on within us, just as the fruit makes known a tree otherwise unknown to us.

-Thalassios the Libyan

Internal Law

"His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:2

The law is not the way I obtain entrance into heaven, but it is a description of what God does in me to make me godly. The law was once an external objective, but now its is an internal work of the spirit.

It is just as important now to study the law as it was during the psalmists' time, but now I must never put it outside myself as something to strive for.

If I fail at a commandment, I must meditate on it, but not strive to fullfil it, but rather pray that He fill it in me.

The Law says "do." Grace says "done."

Righteous Hunger

"The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of teh wicked."

Proverbs 10:3

I am defined by my hunger. Jesus said those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be filled [Matthew 5:6]. The craving, by His description, is who I am.

What are my hungers? They are an accurate description of who I am and the Kingdom I'd rather live in.

1. Ashley

2. self image

3. Architecture

4. perfection

Deep Guidance

"He reveals deep and hidden things."

Daniel 2:22

He offers me deep and hiden things, but I must have a deep and hidden relationship with Him in order to learn these things. It involves a heavy cost on my end: a sacrificial life, a thirst for truth, a love for my Savior, and a promise to follow Him wherever He leads.

Askign for the light of His wisdom demands a pledge to live in the light of His wisdom.

An All-the-Time-God

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Job 2:10

God is no a good luck charm for me to whip out/pray to only when I need or want something. And I do not have the right to ask for things from Him, and then complain when I don't get them or when times are tough.

He is the Governor of my life, the Sovereign who directs me in every way I should go, the Blesser who measures His blessings by the Depths of His grace, the Shepherd who will lead me through both comfortable plains and difficult valleys. He is the God of real life.

The Opinion That Matters

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept."

Proverbs 29:25

"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." [Proverbs 9:10]...and fear of man is the end of it.

It does not matter what those around me think about me. The only opinion that matters is His.  He does not want me in a futile search for the approval of others. He calls me to place my identity in Him, not anyone or anything else.

New Clothes

Monday 17.11.2008

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self...and to put on the new self."

Ephesians 4:22, 24

If I claim to be part of the Kingdom of God, I cannot continue to act like everyone else in this world. I must leave all the actions of this world behind, and only do things that honor Him.

It is a daily process:

1. I must deny deceitful desires

2. I must saturate myself in a new attitude

3. I become like God in righteousness and holiness

A Selfish View of God

"A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord."

Proverbs 19:3

I cannot try to be independant and keep God on the edges, and then expect Him to come swooping in at the first sign of trouble. I must keep Him close to everything I do, and every decision I make,  He must be there. Then He will be much more willing to assist me in times of true need.

He needs to be an integral and intimate foundation of my life. Then my cries will be pleasing to Him.

Displaying Jesus

Colossians 3:23

Who is sovereign over my circumstances? Who is really in control? What do I let affect/control me in my work/studies?

I am where I am becuase that is where God wants to display himself. It is not just a place for me to produce something for 8 hours a day and then go home to lead my "Godly" life. He wants to do things through me in this place.

I am working for God, not the guy who signs the paycheck/report card.

"I am doing it not because God wants me to be here, but because He wants to be here."

Representing Jesus

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

Collosians 3:23

How we act in life, including what we do at work, reflects the character of Jesus. Those around me will look to me to see how I act, and in turn will think that is how Jesus would act.

Our lives are not judged based on physical accomplishments and achievments, but rather on th fruits of our labor. [spiritual fruit]

In Sync With God

Thursday 13.11.2008

"If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable."

Proverbs 28:9

A heart inclined toward God opens the way for Him to have ears inclined toward us.

If I do not have my intentions in the right place, and if I am not following the law, I can't expect my prayers to be doing anything different. The are detestable to Him.

God's Value System

"When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him."

Proverbs 16:7

My value system should be that of the Lord's, and I should constantly pray that my values align with His. God's value system will prevail, and His light will penetrate all darkness.

God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night, the brighter they shine.

-David Nicholas

Bound by Debt

'The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.'

Proverbs 22:7

Having a lot of debt can make it difficult to stay in God's will. If He wants me to move and I have too much debt, I may not be abel to follow his path for my life.'

I need to be discerning about what debt I take, and decide whether it is justified or not. I am bound by the morals of my faith to pay off any and all my debts.

I must be sure that I do not become a servant to the world through my debt, but remain bound to my Lord.

Commitment and Success

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

Wow. The Lord really knows how to speak to me. [duh]

What does it mean to commit to the Lord whatever we do?

'A life dedicated to God will experience a God dedicated to Life.'  If our values shape everything we do, then it will be committed to the Lord by definition.

How does God define success?

Jesus is the perfect example. He was considered a failure by the world. A revolutionary who gave up at the end and was crucified. But that is the lord's definition of success: persecution. A successful life for God is not one of fame and glory, but one of hardship and sacrifice.

Revealing Choices

The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Proverbs 11:6

The choices we make in life, even the insignificant ones, tell us about what we really desire. They could be as simple as our taste in clothes, or as important as our feelings towards other people. Our choices can also reveal my need for God. I continually do things that I know I shouldn't and don't want to do.

Like Paul in Romans 7, I don what I don't want to do, and don't do what I want to do. Only Jesus can set me free from this inability. And it is not just a matter of obedience. Even as he sets me free, I must be reminded of the gravity of my choices. In my toughest sins and most repeatable temptations, I give God clear answers to his tests of me.

Lord, I know I have repeatedly chosen passing sin over Fellowship with you. Please give me the strength to choose you every time. Remind me of my true desires, and let my actions reflect them. Amen

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