Grace: God’s Second Chance

Romans 5:1-6

Scripture records a grim picture of mankind: dead in our sins, under God’s wrath, and subject to eternal separation from Him (Eph. 2:1-3). Through the cross, He gives us a second chance to be in a loving relationship with Him. When we place our faith in Christ, He pours out His unconditional love—His grace—upon us.

Because of grace, we have been justified by faith. Justification is a declaration by God that we are not guilty in His sight. At salvation, Jesus’ death on the cross is counted as payment for our sins. All our disobedience—past, present, and future—is fully forgiven.

The means of obtaining this pardon is through genuine faith in Jesus Christ. What does that look like? It’s a faith that accepts the Lord’s judgment that we are sinners who are unable to rescue ourselves and in need of a Savior. It believes that Jesus paid for our sins through His death, that God accepted His payment on our behalf, and that we are forgiven and made part of His family. If we have true faith, we’ll give Him our allegiance and wholeheartedly seek to serve Him.

Grace also gives us peace with the Lord. Before salvation, we were His enemies, under a sentence of eternal death. But after trusting in Christ, we were adopted into God’s family and have His favor forever.

Through grace, we have been given a second chance. Instead of receiving the eternal punishment we deserved, we’re given acceptance through faith in Christ (Rom. 15:7) and have become members of God’s family (8:15). Make full use of this second opportunity by passionately pursuing Him.

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Falling in Love With Jesus

Psalm 63

When we fall in love, we want to spend time with the object of our affection and willingly give our attention to the relationship. Falling in love with Jesus should be no different, but believers often hurry through Bible reading and prayer. The result is a superficial faith kept alive by habit rather than worship. To attain lasting intimacy, we must approach God with a sense of purpose and determination.

Purpose. “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the lord your God,” King David advised the leaders of Israel (1 Chron. 22:19). Believers must choose whether to pursue God or chase after idols. If we desire intimacy with Him, it is necessary for us to approach the spiritual disciplines purposefully. Before opening Scripture, ask the Lord what He wants to say to you. Pray to understand His ways—He loves answering that request. And enter church with the intention of taking home a new truth from the Lord.

Determination. Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently,” Isaiah told Yahweh (Isa. 26:9). But even when we do not feel like putting time into our relationship with Christ, we must determine to do so. A revelation from God won’t come every day, but a believer need not despair. Those who diligently seek the Savior experience His presence frequently in their worship.

Getting to know Jesus brings pure joy into a believer’s life. However, we must be willing to offer Him prime time, not our leftover minutes. Giving God attention and spending time with Him is one way to show Him we love Him. God gives us His best; we should put forth no less in return.

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Salvation is to be found through him alone...

who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

as something to be used for His own advantage.

 Instead He emptied Himself

by assuming the form of a slave,

taking on the likeness of men.

And when He had come as a man

in His external form,

 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross.

 For this reason God highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow—

of those who are in heaven and on earth

and under the earth—

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11

Do not worry.

Matthew 6:27
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Luke 12:22
 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The LORD watches over you--

To You I Do Lift Up My Eyes

A Song of Ascents. To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us. Be gracious to us, O LORD, be gracious to us...

Psalm 123:1-3

 Confidence in God under contempt. - Our Lord Jesus has taught us to look unto God in prayer as our Father in heaven. In every prayer a good man lifts up his soul to God; especially when in trouble. We desire mercy from him; we hope he will show us mercy, and we will continue waiting on him till it come. The eyes of a servant are to his master's directing hand, expecting that he will appoint him his work. And also to his supplying hand. Servants look to their master or their mistress for their portion of meat in due season. And to God we must look for daily bread, for grace sufficient; from him we must receive it thankfully. Where can we look for help but to our Master? And, further, to his protecting hand. If the servant is wronged and injured in his work, who should right him, but his master? And to his correcting hand. Whither should sinners turn but to him that smote them? They humble themselves (ourselves) under God's mighty hand. And lastly, to his rewarding hand. Hypocrites look to the world's hand, thence they have their reward; but true Christians look to God as their Master and their Rewarder. God's people find little mercy with men; but this is their comfort, that with the Lord there is mercy. Scorning and contempt have been, are, and are likely to be, the lot of God's people in this world. It is hard to bear; but the servants of God should not complain if they are treated as his beloved Son was. Let us then, when ready to faint under trials, look unto Jesus, and by faith and prayer cast ourselves upon the mercy of God.


Matthew Henry

http://biblehub.com/psalms/123-2.htm

Taste and See the Lord is Good

Psalm 34:7-9

…The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.…

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Proverbs 16:20
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

Jeremiah 17:7
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him


 If we hope to spend eternity in praising God, it is fit that we should spend much of our time here in this work. He never said to any one, Seek ye me in vain. David's prayers helped to silence his fears; many besides him have looked unto the Lord by faith and prayer, and it has wonderfully revived and comforted them. When we look to the world, we are perplexed, and at a loss. But on looking to Christ depends our whole salvation, and all things needful thereunto do so also. This poor man, whom no man looked upon with any respect, or looked after with any concern, was yet welcome to the throne of grace; the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The holy angels minister to the saints, and stand for them against the powers of darkness. All the glory be to the Lord of the angels. By taste and sight we both make discoveries, and have enjoyment; Taste and see God's goodness; take notice of it, and take the comfort of it. He makes all truly blessed that trust in him. As to the things of the other world, they shall have grace sufficient for the support of spiritual life. And as to this life, they shall have what is necessary from the hand of God. Paul had all, and abounded, because he was content, Php 4:11-18. Those who trust to themselves, and think their own efforts sufficient for them, shall want; but they shall be fed who trust in the Lord. Those shall not want, who with quietness work, and mind their own business. (Psalm34:1-10)

Matthew Henry

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/psalms/34.htm

The First Commandment with a Promise

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.…- Ephesians 6:1-3

The great duty of children is, to obey their parents. That obedience includes inward reverence, as well as outward acts, and in every age prosperity has attended those distinguished for obedience to parents. The duty of parents. Be not impatient; use no unreasonable severities. Deal prudently and wisely with children; convince their judgements and work upon their reason. Bring them up well; under proper and compassionate correction; and in the knowledge of the duty God requires. Often is this duty neglected, even among professors of the gospel. Many set their children against religion; but this does not excuse the children's disobedience, though it may be awfully occasion it. God alone can change the heart, yet he gives his blessing to the good lessons and examples of parents, and answers their prayers. But those, whose chief anxiety is that their children should be rich and accomplished, whatever becomes of their souls, must not look for the blessing of God.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-2.htm

God Does Listen

John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
Job 35:13
Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.
Psalm 18:41
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-- to the LORD, but he did not answer.
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Proverbs 1:28
"Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,
Proverbs 15:8
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Our faith can move mountains...

Matthew 7:7

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock

 and the door will be opened to you.

1 John 3:22

and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his

commands and do what pleases him.


Matthew 21:22

…21And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to

 you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do 

what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this

 mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will 

happen. 22"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you 

will receive."

John 14:13

 And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do...

Spiritual Highs: Real or Counterfeit?

Luke 9:28-37

God gives us high spiritual experiences in order to reveal truth about Himself. But how do you know if your experience is authentic or not? Any spiritual event that magnifies itself or some other activity but does not direct your attention to God is, more than likely, counterfeit. When God lifts us up, He does so to focus our thoughts on Him.

That’s what happened at the Mount of Transfiguration: As they stood in the presence of God in human flesh, Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in all His majesty. Observing Him there with Moses and Elijah, who were deceased, the disciples realized there is life after death. The things they learned frightened them, but the Lord was revealing something they would never forget.

Why does God open our hearts and give us glimpses of Himself? By doing so, He strengthens and motivates us for His purposes. At the same time, He helps us to absorb understanding that will transcend any future doubt. Peter and his companions were never the same after the transfiguration. Even when their beloved Lord was taken and crucified, nothing could erase their indelible memories of the miracle they’d witnessed.

The idea that God is somewhere far away from us isn’t scriptural. He wants to unveil Himself to His people and commune through His Holy Spirit. If you have never heard God speak, could it be that there is too much noise in your life distracting you from Him? Next time you are in church, don’t simply go through the motions. God wants to say something to you that will make a difference in your life. If you listen to Him, He will.

Jesus Christ: The Son of God

John 1:1-2

Have you ever heard someone deny that Jesus claimed to be God? Such a statement simply does not make sense. Repeatedly, Jesus placed Himself on equal footing with the Father and the Holy Spirit (John 10:30; John 14:6-14). Scripture gives us a clear picture of Jesus’ eternal, intimate relationship with the heavenly Father.

Why is it important for us to believe this? Because Jesus did something that had never been done before: He enabled men and women to see God in a new way. In Colossians 1:15, Paul explains that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.” No one has ever looked upon the face of the Almighty. In the Old Testament, some people were confronted with God, but they were never able to look fully upon His glory. In fact, even Moses, who is called a friend of God (Ex. 33:11), could not look directly at Him. At best, Moses had the opportunity to look upon God’s back as He passed by, but never saw His face (Ex. 33:18-23).

The reason Jesus came, however, was to bridge the gap between God’s glory and mankind’s sinful nature. In the original Greek text, the word for “image” is directly related to the English word icon. Just as an icon on your computer screen directs you to the main program, Jesus directs believers to the fullness of God’s glory. As the “icon,” Jesus is the exact, flawless replica of God. Therefore, Jesus could say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

What has Jesus taught you about the Father? How can you share that insight with someone today?

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?version=NASB&search=John%201:1-2

Finding Contentment

John 14:1 (NLT)

Too often we let our circumstances determine our attitude. If life is going smoothly, then we feel good about ourselves. But when it gets hard, our mood drops. However, we don’t have to live this way. Like the apostle Paul, we can learn and practice the secret of being content.

Contentment means accepting things the way they are—in other words, not wanting anything to be more or different. This requires developing an “I can through Christ” attitude. It means learning to allow God’s power to come into our weakness so we can accept and adapt to changing circumstances. When we respond to life with that kind of thinking, we move beyond living by feelings to living by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Submission and trust are needed for such a lifestyle. First, we must surrender our will to God’s: In every situation, we are to yield what we want and then accept whatever He allows. Our desire to control events is replaced by reliance on Him. This option becomes more appealing when we realize that the alternative—fighting against our circumstances—brings anxiety and distress. The second step is to trust God to oversee our specific situation. If we believe He is working out His perfect plan for us, then we will experience the joy that comes from trusting Him. Contentment will be ours.

Paul submitted his life to God and trusted Him. He faced insults, rejection, and many difficult trials but was still content. When we surrender control to the Lord and believe He has our best interest at heart, we will experience contentment, too. Who has control in your life?

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The Reward of Letting Go

Genesis 22:1-3

While it’s often a struggle to put everything on the altar, one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to understand how God will accomplish His plans. All He asks is that you surrender your will to His and trust that He will show you the way forward (Prov. 3:5-6). Abraham’s willingness to give up what was most precious to him came from his unyielding faith in the Lord’s trustworthiness.

However, if you tell God no because He won’t explain why He wants us to do something, we are actually hindering His blessing. But when we say yes to Him, heaven opens to pour out His goodness and reward our obedience. What matters more than material blessings are the things He is teaching us in our spirit. But don’t mistake His way of rewarding as being like a parent who withholds a treat until the child does as he’s told. Rather, obeying the Lord naturally positions us to receive what He is already trying to give us and accomplish in our lives. So, when we fail to trust Him and refuse to do what He says, we are the ones choosing to close ourselves off from those good things.

What has God asked you to do? Have you only partially cooperated? Or have you, like Abraham, given up your need to understand and then obeyed completely?

If the Lord says to give more than you think you’re able to give, know that He will provide. Whether things are running smoothly or the bottom has dropped out, He is always trustworthy. You can count on almighty God to keep His everlasting Word.

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The Freedom of Letting Go

1 Peter 5:6-7

Our heavenly Father is interested in every detail in our life. If we want Him to work in a particular area—whether relationships, finances, vocation, habits, or something else—we must be willing to let go of our control and give over to Him whatever He asks of us.

We may think we have no attachments that come between us and the Lord, but He knows our hearts. One Sunday as I was about to preach a sermon along these lines, He showed me something I hadn’t yet surrendered. I realized I needed to deal with it, or I wouldn’t be able to preach the sermon. So I was glad when the choir’s song took a while, because I had time to come to a place of being able to say, “Lord, if that’s what You desire, I commit it to You. You have the right to claim it at any time, so it’s Yours right now.”

It’s difficult to be completely obedient if we’re holding on to something too tightly. The Lord wants our attachment to be exclusively to Him. You may have multitudes of things that God has blessed you with, but the moment any of it has a hold on you, His work in your life will be blocked. But when you open your hands, gripping nothing, you will be totally free as the Holy Spirit’s power flows through you.

Is there anything you feel you could never give up? Think about whatever captivates you, and honestly consider whether it also holds you captive. I challenge you to release that relationship or situation to the Lord right now so He can give you the freedom you’ve been craving.

God’s Provisions in Adversity

1 Thessalonians 5:18

As we determined yesterday, if you are not going through a difficult time, you likely will encounter one soon. Jesus assured us that we’d have many hardships in this life (John 16:33).

As unpleasant as trials are, there are still many reasons for giving thanks....

1) Protection. God doesn’t necessarily keep believers from suffering or disappointment. Stopping the storms may be our goal, but from His point of view, the adversity may be necessary to mature us spiritually. However, the Father offers protection by staying with us in the struggle. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are promised that God’s Spirit indwells us and will never leave. What’s more, we have assurance that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39). So our ever-present God walks with us through the hardships, providing guidance and speaking truth into the situation.

2) Peace. While difficulties cause many people anxiety, God’s peace is available to His children. This inner serenity does not depend on whether circumstances improve. Rather, it’s a result of our relationship with Him. Our main focus shouldn't be on fixing the problem; rather, we should concentrate on our dependence upon God.

As we recognize the Lord’s provision during trials, we can genuinely express gratitude. We often don’t know what the purpose is for each ensuing difficulty, but we do know that our God is good and trustworthy.

The LORD is my shield.

Psalm 3:3
But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

His words will renew our strength.

The Word that gives life

    was from the beginning,

and this is the one

    our message is about.

Our ears have heard,

    our own eyes have seen,

and our hands touched

    this Word.

1 John 1

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life.

John 6:63

...your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:32-34

Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both wealth and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

1 Kings 3:13

The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:3

Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

Proverbs 28:10

Our Master defines us.

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:16

We become what we yield to. We assume the likeness of who we believe in. Our conviction of what we follow directs our character.

Call upon His name in all circumstances; only in Him we can find help.

18If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; 19But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me.

Psalm 66:18-19

God's mercy is greater than our sin, His loving kindness overtakes our weakness. He will listen to our cry because His grace abounds. 

Fix our thoughts on the Lord, He will keep us in His perfect peace.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7


2"Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful. 3"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. 4"Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.…

Isaiah 26:2-3

God surrounds His people.

Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5:12


Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

Psalm 33:22

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Psalm 32:10

How we handle our emotion will show the best or worst in us.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-10

…8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. 9Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools. 10Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.…

James 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Proverbs 14:17
A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
Proverbs 14:29
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

Life and death is in the power of our tongue.

27A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. 28A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. 29A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.…

Proverbs 16:27-29

...who plots evil with deceit in his heart-- he always stirs up conflict.

Proverbs 6:14

Proverbs 18:21

We may avoid the spread of fire by not adding fuel to it.

Only in Jesus, we can truly find rest.

Matthew 11:27-29

…27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…


Psalm 62:5 

5My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.…

When we come to God as a Father, we must remember that he is Lord of heaven and earth, which obliges us to come to him with reverence as to the sovereign Lord of all; yet with confidence, as one able to defend us from evil, and to supply us with all good.

-Matthew Henry


I draw my strength from You alone, my LORD, when my heart gets tired of striving and my hope seems losing, I refresh my zeal with your word, for in You, hope never fades, in You, my life has a sure direction, in You, I can find peace and rest for my soul. Amen.

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Proverbs 29:23

Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,
but an accurate weight is His delight.

When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.

The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.

When the wicked man dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth vanishes.

The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.

With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices,
and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man with understanding keeps silent.

A gossip goes around revealing a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

Without guidance, people fall,
but with many counselors there is deliverance.

If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent men gain only riches.

A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.

The wicked man earns an empty wage,
but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.

Genuine righteousness leads to life,
but pursuing evil leads to death.

Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are His delight.

Be assured that the wicked
will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

The desire of the righteous turns out well,
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.

One person gives freely,
yet gains more;
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.

A generous person will be enriched,
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.

People will curse anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

The one who searches for what is good finds favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

The one who brings ruin on his household
will inherit the wind,
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
but violence takes lives.

If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.

Proverbs 11

When we start being selfless, we don't lose... we gain.