Gifts of Grace
Galations 3:1-5 "You people in Galatia were told very clearly about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But you were foolish; you let someone trick you. Tell me this one thing: How did you receive the Holy Spirit? Did you receive the Spirit by following the law? No, you received the Spirit because you heard the Good News and believed it. You began your life in Christ by the Spirit. Now are you trying to make it complete by your own power? That is foolish. Were all your experiences wasted? I hope not! Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you follow the law? No, he does these things because you heard the Good News and believed it. "
I have been reading Galations a lot lately, simply reading it all the way through. This part always strikes me because so many people I run into still allow themselves to be controled by the law. When we allow ourselves to be slaves to the law we are still slaves to sin, and even worse slaves to Satan. The only thing that can save us is believing and trusting in the GRACE that God has shown us!
Paul hits it right on the head when he asks where the Spirit comes from and where our "works" come from. It's nothing we do ourselves. Everything that is good comes from God, and everything that isn't good comes from sin and the Satan. There is no other source. We can't do anything good on our own, nor can God do anything bad.
After Hurrican Katrina hit Mississippi and Louisianna there are many people who seek to point fingers and place the blame. There is so much devestation and sadness that there must be someone to blame. Yet, how could any human being be held accountable for this? I can understand the need to vent frustrations and anger and bitterness and sadness. What I can't understand is the need to point a political finger! I can't stand that people are trying to blame one political party or another for failing to respond as they feel should have been done. What we need now is not pointing fingers, not guiltful glares, and snide comments; but GRACE.
So many people need love and hope right now. The only place that we get those things is from God our Father! We need to come together and show the grace that God has shown us to those around us. It's undeserved and much desired! It's unexpected and much prayed for! Instead of pointing fingers and assigning blame, let's remember where hope comes from! It comes from the Spirit of Faith. It comes from salvation in Christ. My prayer is that those who did lose their lives were believers and that they are with Christ! The part that scares me more is that many of the people who died may not have been believers. The blessing is that those who survived have another chance to hear God's grace and trust and believe!
May God be with you. May His grace abound in you. May your hearts be open to the undeserved forgiveness and grace that only faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus can give!
I have been reading Galations a lot lately, simply reading it all the way through. This part always strikes me because so many people I run into still allow themselves to be controled by the law. When we allow ourselves to be slaves to the law we are still slaves to sin, and even worse slaves to Satan. The only thing that can save us is believing and trusting in the GRACE that God has shown us!
Paul hits it right on the head when he asks where the Spirit comes from and where our "works" come from. It's nothing we do ourselves. Everything that is good comes from God, and everything that isn't good comes from sin and the Satan. There is no other source. We can't do anything good on our own, nor can God do anything bad.
After Hurrican Katrina hit Mississippi and Louisianna there are many people who seek to point fingers and place the blame. There is so much devestation and sadness that there must be someone to blame. Yet, how could any human being be held accountable for this? I can understand the need to vent frustrations and anger and bitterness and sadness. What I can't understand is the need to point a political finger! I can't stand that people are trying to blame one political party or another for failing to respond as they feel should have been done. What we need now is not pointing fingers, not guiltful glares, and snide comments; but GRACE.
So many people need love and hope right now. The only place that we get those things is from God our Father! We need to come together and show the grace that God has shown us to those around us. It's undeserved and much desired! It's unexpected and much prayed for! Instead of pointing fingers and assigning blame, let's remember where hope comes from! It comes from the Spirit of Faith. It comes from salvation in Christ. My prayer is that those who did lose their lives were believers and that they are with Christ! The part that scares me more is that many of the people who died may not have been believers. The blessing is that those who survived have another chance to hear God's grace and trust and believe!
May God be with you. May His grace abound in you. May your hearts be open to the undeserved forgiveness and grace that only faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus can give!
posted by Kristy Laughed @ 12:13 PM
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