Accepted Gift or Just Received

This morning I was again reminded (has happened a lot over the past couple weeks) that the gift of grace and salvation from God is free to all, yet requires acceptance and not just receipt. I wrote first of the difference in the two about two weeks ago and it continues to manifest daily in my study of the word “gift”.

Receive: to come into possession of: acquire

Accept: to receive (something offered) willingly

— Merriam-Webster Online

Notice the difference in the definition above. Accepting is the willing acquisition of something where as receiving is just acquiring it. As pertains to grace and salvation, we all are provided the gift and receive them from God. Managing them in our lives and using them to bring glory to God requires acceptance.

Now, on to this mornings learning and reminders for me. Once I have truly accepted the gift of grace and salvation from God I have it forever. It is in the word “truly” in the previous sentence that drives that home. I can receive the gift and yet not accept it. I can be involved in the community of Christ yet not be a member. It is the acceptance of the gift and becoming a member of the family of God where I am found.

“⁴For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” — Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV)

There are a lot of thoughts as to what is meant here. I happen to believe as I noted above that it refers to the difference in the receipt and acceptance of the gift of grace and salvation. It is possible for someone to be involved in the community of Christ and yet not be a member. There are many examples of those who have pretended to be followers of Christ for the optics of what that represents and then when they walk away after church, return to the life of secularism. These are those who have received the gift of grace and salvation, yet did not take the chance to accept the gift.

“⁷For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.” — Hebrews 6:7-8 (ESV)

And there it is, the difference in receiving and accepting in the example of land and rain. Rain will come and the land will receive it, yet whether or not it is accepting and using it in cultivation, that is the question. All of the land receives the gift of rain, yet not all of the land is accepting of the rain to be used in cultivation.

For me, I have to be thankful for the LORD and His gift of grace and salvation. I am in the position to receive the gift and for that I am also thankful. Where things get good are only when I have accepted the gift and as noted in Timothy, I have “fan into flame the gift of God”. This is where I will find the chance to truly bring glory to Him.

What is the status of the gift of grace and salvation in your life? Have you received it as others have and then go back to the world? What if you received and then accepted the gift to be used and cultivated into the glorification of God?

Works Now, Grace Before I Began

This morning I am looking at another realization as I study “works”. Grace was granted by God well before I began. Yes, I know, I have looked at that grace comes before works as I am not able to “earn” my way to salvation from works, the works are a demonstration of my salvation given by God through grace and my faith in Him. But His grace predates my existence here in this world.

“⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” — 2 Timothy 1:8-9 (ESV)

Paul has written to Timothy 2000 years ago and he indicates that God provided grace “before the ages began”. I came along in the now, relatively, and that puts me even further out from when grace was given. Therefore grace did come well before I began and my works are only a result of that grace.

The thing that I have learned, or was reminded and realized is that God’s grace was eternal and will be eternal. He gave it long ago for those who would receive and will continue to give to those who did receive and have yet to receive. It is faith in His grace where I have to remember to reside and do the works to demonstrate that faith in His grace.

Now that I have learned or reminded and realized of God’s grace well before I began, it is important that I remember it as I progress forward in this world and lean on His grace for all of my actions and works. I have to guard against being influenced by the world and falling into the trap of trying to “earn” my way. I have to trust Him and follow His direction.

“¹³Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” — 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV)

Where are you leaning as you move forward? Are you leaning on the now with the works that you are doing and trying to earn your way? What if you realized that you have already received the grace that was given you even “before the ages began”?

God Works In and Through You

I know, who’d thought it. Well, Paul for one thought it and announced it to the Philippians in his letter.

“¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” — Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

I read this morning and frankly was a bit confused when I started with verse 12. Accordingly Paul says that we are to “work out your own salvation”. What work am I to do?

Well, he is not talking about doing works to gain salvation, he is referring to the discernment of gaining salvation. And as I have already determined and written here, it is through faith in God and His grace that lead to my salvation and justification in Him. So working out my own salvation is just that, having faith in Him and believing in His grace and accepting salvation that only He provides.

Now getting to verse 13 above. I am to work out my salvation and allow God to do works in my life from within me. Once I have accepted Him into my life and heart in the demonstration of my turning to Him, He begins to manifest His work throughout me from within me. I have to allow God to take over me and work for “His good pleasure”. I am His instrument and must allow for Him to do the work He has set out for me. I am just the hands for Him and am to take on that which He would have me take on.

When we allow God to work in and through us, we are provided that which He knows we will need. Recently I had Jehovah’s Witness come to my door. I understand how it can be a bit stressful to engage with someone you don’t know and certainly do not know how they will react or engage in the encounter. The hardest thing is knowing what to say to make things friendly and conversational. Well with God working in me and the relationship I have with Him I openly engaged in conversation with them and was able to share His word with them just as they were sharing His word with me. It was such a lovely conversation that as they were leaving they provided me with their personal phone number to reach out and engage more when the moment struck. Nervousness was felt on both sides, yet God worked in me and I suspect in them to remove the nervousness and create a great conversation and engagement.

It is not up to me to work for my salvation, yet it is up to me to work thanks to my salvation. God works in me to work through me to reach those in my sphere. I have to be willing to allow for that work and take it on as my armor in this world that is fully against me.

What work are you doing in this world? Are you do the work to just get by and survive and somehow earn something in return? What if you worked as the instrument of God and allowed for His work to manifest in and through you in any and all situations?

Faith Got Us Here, Stick With It

I continue my study of “works” and the overwhelming theme is that we rely on faith and not works, and that the works are a result of out salvation and justification thanks to our faith. Well, this morning I have been led to continued learning and reminders that while we got here through faith and works are a demonstration of that faith, I have to continue to rely on faith and not works.

“⁵Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’?…¹⁰For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’” — Galatians 3:5-6 & 10 (ESV)

Relying on works gets us nowhere except in the arena of the cursed. Man cannot be relied on for salvation, only God. Jesus was cursed by the law so that I would not have to be. He was judged as to His works by the people who deemed those works against them. It did not matter that Jesus was light spreading the good news, the people were attached to firmly to the law they were unable to see Him for who He truly was.

I recently heard someone speaking that “Christian Nationalists” were wrong to believe that the rights of all are gained from God. Somehow this person believed that the rights of all come from man. Do we see now that this person is wrong in their thinking and have fallen to the idea that works are greater than faith? Clearly, as Paul notes above, these who believe this are “under a curse”.

I have gained my salvation and justification through my faith in Christ and the love He has for me. It is clear that I should stick with that which got me here and not waver in my attention to He who provided for me. I am sure that a lot of us have heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it”. That is how I have to be in my relationship with Christ. Relying on faith worked, why try and fix it with works.

What are you doing now that your faith got you to the relationship with Christ? Are you somehow trying to prove and earn more through your works? What if you were to stick with faith since it worked to get you here?

Faith Not Works

I started my study of the word “works” as a natural progression from my study of “mercy”. I keep running into the idea that works do not get me there, they are the result of my salvation and justification. I do not “earn” anything through my works, only demonstrate my salvation and justification. This morning is no different as I again am led to Galatians and the passage titled “Justification by Faith”.

“¹⁵We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; ¹⁶yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” — Galatians 2:15-16 (ESV)

What I have learned in the passage is really nothing new. What I have come to realize this morning is that God is speaking to me. I have been struggling with the lack of acknowledgment in the works that I am doing. I feel as though I am being ignored and not gaining anything in return for those works. I have realized that it is the “man” in me that is seeking this acknowledgment and not the Christian in me. I am looking for the reward here in this world and not focus on my Kingdom purpose to spread the gospel and allowing God to do His work through me.

I will say that it is hard, knowing that I am doing the work and others seem to be doing less and getting more out of it. Whether it is safety, security, promotion, recognition, celebration, or whatever, I have to remember that all of that is of no consequence in the end and my relationship with Christ and the work I am doing for Him is what really matters. I have to know that God is taking care of me to provide for my needs and allow me to be content in it all. I am His to do with what He pleases and not for my own pleasure.

Yes, I would “feel” better in this world if my works were more recognized and appreciated. It would be easier to make it to the next knowing that my works were known to be in the best interest of all. But, it is not my works that are gaining the notoriety, it is my faith in Christ that gains me salvation and justification with Him and that is what really matters.

Lord, give me the strength to know that I have already found favor with You and You have provided for my salvation and justified me through faith in You. I am Yours and You are mine. Give me the wisdom to know that my faith is enough and I must continue my work for You to demonstrate my justification thanks to my faith in You.

What are you relying on to gain salvation and justification? Are you out there working to somehow earn it? What if you placed your faith in God, knowing that it is enough and your works are just your demonstration of the salvation and justification the LORD has provided thanks to that faith?

Saved by Grace Thanks to God’s Mercy

Each morning I approach God’s Word with an open mind and heart for Him to lead me in what it is He would have me. I only have a plan on where I will start and that is I continue with a word study from the concordance of my ESV Bible. Right now I am studying the word “mercy” and go one or two verses at a time in the day. The only expectation I have is that I will be impacted in some way by the word as used and meant in the verse, or from the passage as a whole. I do not force the study on a particular topic. This morning is no different as move to Ephesians and Paul’s passage titled “By Grace Through Faith”.

“⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,” — Ephesians 2:4 (ESV)

Above is the verse that started my study this morning. Simple enough. God is rich in mercy and love for us. But when I look only at the verse, I am still confused and need more. So, I read on, starting at the beginning of the passage and find why Paul installs this verse into his letter.

“¹And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” — Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)

Paul writes of the mercy and love of God to let know that we are in need of it. The Ephesians and we were enslaved by the evil one. We were following the destructive path. “But God” provided the way out through His mercy and love.

“⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” — Ephesians 2:5-7 (ESV)

When I read past verse four I find that there is so much more thanks to God’s mercy. I have been not only given mercy and love, but I have also been given grace and salvation and the eternal reward of heavenly citizenship.

Putting it all together gives me the context of just what has been done for me and what my reward is. I was dead in sin, “But God” had mercy on me and loved me, regardless of my past. Thanks to that mercy, God offered me salvation through His grace free of charge and all I have to do is continue to have faith in Him.

I am truly blessed to have Christ with whom I can trust. He provides for me thanks to His immeasurable mercy, love, and grace. Thank you LORD!

What are you looking at to be saved? Are you working to somehow earn salvation? What if you just accepted that God’s mercy, love, and grace are enough and all you have to do is put your faith in Him?

Genuineness Tested

God does not test me for no reason. He is working to build my endurance and strength to overcome the trials and persecution that come with following Him. I have to embrace the tests to know that I am growing in my faith and to demonstrate my genuineness of faith.

“⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)

I have for the past bit been studying the words “trial” and “tested” to understand the words and their impact on me as a follower of Christ. I find it difficult to make it through the days without being tested and as a follower of Christ, I wanted to know why all the tests if I am indeed chosen as an heir with Jesus. I got my answers.

I am not tested to challenge my faith and beat me down. I am tested to grow my faith and build me up. These tests that I experience each day are evidence that God is indeed on my side and is working to prepare me for even more to come. Jesus was tested daily to build His strength to go to the cross and die for me and all who have sinned. He was not drenched in robes and ornamentation in His time here in this world. He was no different that me in that He walked through all the worldly things just as I do.

Now, I am not Jesus and will not claim to be. I am just a man and am a follower of Christ. I am however tested to build me up as He was. I am shown the difficulty in the world and given the endurance to overcome that difficulty and proceed with the work He has for me. I follow Christ, not for the wonders of what I receive here in this world, but the wonders received when I have left this world. I need the tests to give me the strength to continue with my genuine walk with Christ and to power through all that is presented to me.

It would be easy for me to just give up and turn away from the LORD. I can avoid the tests altogether by doing so. But, then I would be the hypocrite. I would claim to be the follower of Christ for the optics of the world, and then turn from Him in the interest of satisfying the world view and to avoid the tests that come with the relationship with Christ. My faith would be superficial and not to my core. I would not be genuine and that would be the travesty. I choose to endure the tests that come with my relationship to demonstrate my genuine faith in Jesus Christ my savior.

What is the point of the tests you encounter? Are you looking to avoid them? What if you accepted them as the strength builder as they reveal your genuine faith?

Trials Produce Results

Scientist conduct multiple trials as they work. Weight lifters attempt ever heavier weights to reach a maximum. God provides trials for me to purify me and my work for Him.

“⁹And I will put this third into the fire,

and refine them as one refines silver,

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’;

and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

— Zechariah 13:9 (ESV)

I will be tested by God to make me stronger for Him and to continue to build my endurance.

“³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:3 (ESV)

With my endurance, I am able to withstand even more and more trials and tests. I am also able to overcome temptations that I encounter along the way. As I am dealing with and working through the trials as are presented by God, I am avoiding the idleness that leads to temptation through my engagement in the work of God. As I have studied and written before, it is this avoidance of idleness that keeps me away from the temptation as I will not have time for it as I am otherwise engaged.

“¹²Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” — James 1:12-13 (ESV)

God will test me, He will not tempt me. I am here to do His work and the tests are to build me up so that I have the strength and stamina to take my part to the end and be able to hand it off to the next in line to complete their part. Yes, that sounds like the recipe for a relay race and I meant it to be. I have but my part to be concerned with. God has already set the work to be completed and completed successfully. I have to remember that I have to do my part. I am unable to complete my part if I am not prepared and that preparedness is in the endurance that comes from the tests and trials that are presented me as I do the work of God.

God’s work will be filled with tests and trials to which I am joyful to have. No, they are not easy to deal with, they are tests and trials. What they are there for, as I included earlier, is to refine me and ensure that I am indeed working for the LORD and not my own gain.

I know there is a lot of God’s Word included here in my post. I have found that it is not my words, but God’s that are important. I am writing only to give my thoughts on what God has shown. I again stress that I am no theologian and am only a sinner working to do the work God has for me. I am willing and excited to do the work and count the tests and trials as a blessing from the LORD.

What do you think about the tests and trials presented to you? Are you downtrodden with all of the challenges that comes when doing God’s work? What if you were to embrace the tests and trials as refining you to accomplish your work for God?

Added to the Family of God

I think about all that takes place to be added to a family here in this world. Well first there is the natural order of child birth. That is not the simplest of things and takes a good amount of time. Second, there is adoption and that can be time consuming and expensive and there is a lot of work to be done. There is a lot to it being added to a family here in this world. What about to be added to the family of God?

“⁴¹So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls…⁴⁶And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” — Acts 2: 41 & 46-47 (ESV)

I read this morning in Acts that what is required to be added to the family of God is receiving the Word of God. Only the need to hear and be added. All can happen in a few minutes. No long time to prepare. No money needed. Only to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and to devote yourself to Him.

“²¹And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” — Mark 10:21 (ESV)

The only requirement is to believe and follow Christ to be added to the family of God. It is not hard to be added, and the cost does not seem high. There is only to follow Christ and believe in Him to be added. And as noted from the rich young man’s story in the following verse, it is still more than most are willing to commit.

“²²Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” — Mark 10:22 (ESV)

Being added to the family is an undertaking. Whether it is adding to this worldly family and going through all the work and or time it takes. Or is it being added to the family of God and giving all of yourself to Him. Either is something that takes commitment. Although to become a member of the family of God is easy in the actions needed and only takes a moment, it is not to be done without the commitment to Christ. The devotion to Him is an in kind devotion He has to me. I have to give all of myself to Him and know that for it, I have received salvation and a relationship with Him, and my final rewards are not of this world, but in heaven.

It is worth the commitment to me. I have family here in this world that took work and continues to do so each day. I have been added to the family of God and where being added was not as difficult, my commitment is one that takes work and continues each day.

What does being added to the family of God look like to you? Are you resistant to the thought of what is required? What if you accepted the Word of God to be added to the family and then committed to the work that continues each subsequent day?

Nothing Can Be Added

As I have been studying, I have thought about and written that nothing should be added or taken away from the Word of God. This morning I have been reminded in God’s Word that nothing can be added to His work.

“¹⁴I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. ¹⁵That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.” — Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 (ESV)

God endures forever and therefor His work endures forever. I forget that sometimes as I work my way through this world. I continue, as a man, working to do for myself and forget that God has already worked everything out for me as noted in verse 15 above. He has already outlined the day and the days to come for me and it is my role to dig into His word and find that outline for me and execute.

Where I am to execute the plan that God has for me, I am to do the work to get the result He has already accounted for. I refer the idea of “commander’s intent – (the desired endstate) – https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/wfldp/docs/Shattuck.pdf, page 2” in accomplishing the work. I am tasked with conducting the work and allowing God’s plan to be realized through my work. The “endstate” has already been determined by God an I am here to carry out the work to reach the “endstate”. I do not know how the work I do impacts the “endstate”, I only know that I am to do the work. The work of God is already predetermined, at least the result is, and there is nothing I can or should do to add to or take away from that end result. Each instance is its own and God has already determined it all and only the completion of the work assigned should be in my purview.

I have and will do enough to accomplish the work that God has for me. I only need to do the work assigned and allow God’s work to shine through my work. I am just the hands doing the physical labor as God is the architect of the end result. His plan has already been established and I am not here to add to that plan or take from that plan, only to execute to realize the plan.

What have you been doing as relates to the work of God? Are you trying to do more than your task to somehow further impact the end result? What if you simply did the work that God has for you and allowed for His plan to unfold based on that work?