Journey4Jesus
Praying Gods Word in all areas of life… The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
(TT) GRACE, GRACE, GODS GRACE…
Can We Ever Measure Up?
Welcome to Throwback Thursday. I’m always in awe of how God chooses to use our circumstances (if we let Him) to come alongside others. God doesn’t waste anything, and wants to use us and our life experiences, both good & bad, to walk along with someone else who is struggling. Maybe that’s you today, maybe God has something in this that will speak into your heart and circumstances, I’m praying He does… read on my friend, may you be encouraged today.
What do you think of when you hear about the Grace of God? I think my response often depends on the lens I’m viewing my life from. When things are running along smoothly, I’m ashamed to admit, I oftentimes don’t even give it all lot of thought. I go through life behaving like its something I deserve.
But when the sunny side of life turns out getting scrambled like my morning eggs, I tend to view that Grace from a very different perspective, especially when it’s caused by my foolishness or rebellion.
As I sit in our current circumstance of life, I see Gods Grace for how massive it is, and how undeserving we are. I’m much more aware of my sin that Jesus paid for on that cross when I’m sitting in my own results of those very sins. Suddenly that sunny side starts showing itself for the greys that were always present… the greys of my unacknowledged sinfulness.
Its can be distressing when we think of the words in Romans 3:23. “For everyone has sinned: we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Everyone – All- that doesn’t feel overly hopeful does it. But I’m so thankful that Paul didn’t stop there, and went on to finish the statement in vs. 24 “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” He took the price we deserved .
I Love that vs 24 starts with “yet”, this means its a transition from one thing ( in this case the old to the new) ; we all are born sinners… Yet… we have hope thanks to the Grace of Jesus…Hallelujah
One cautionary thought I’d like to leave you with today: Grace is an unmerited and beautiful gift that we did not deserve nor can we earn, but it was purchased at a very terrible price… the horrific death of Jesus on a cross. In todays day and age, it is so easy to move into “Graceland” where everything is wonderful and we have no worries nor put thoughts to the sins that are still within our hearts & minds. Never forget the price He paid for that gift to us and live your life surrendered, as a pleasing offering back to Him with thankfulness.
Journal Entry # 14
“God has shown us undeserved Grace by coming to save all people. / He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world. / We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. / He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right./ Teach these things, as you use your full authority to encourage and correct people. Make sure you earn everyones respect”. Titus 2:11-15 CEV
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word, thank you for teaching us how to better follow you and how to please you and show thanksgiving for your kindness to us. Thank you Lord for saving us from the enemy of this world. Your kindness to us shows how much you Love us and desire us to live for you.
Forgive me Lord, for the wicked ways that are still inside me, always striving to take over. Thank you for giving us a way to be free from the slavery of our sin that was born into us. Teach me Lord, how to turn away from the temptations and desires this world throws at me, so that I may live an honest, God-fearing decent life, that would draw others towards you.
Thank you Lord for the hope we have in your glorious return, when we will join you to live for Eternity, no longer fighting these sin prone – sick prone- faulty bodies. I joyfully await your return Jesus. Thank you Jesus, for the sacrifice you willingly made for me, that saves me from the evil of this world and prepares me for my heavenly home. Thank you for the growth that comes from your Grace Lord, doing the work inside of me that I cannot do on my own.
Help me Lord to not only desire to do what’s right but to be eager to follow your ways over my own. Let others see You working out your Salvation in me that they too would want to receive it. Use me Lord to glorify You and to share your message of good news with all that would hear.
Your Word says, in your name we have full authority under Christ. Help me Father to use this authority to effectively encourage your children. If necessary help me also to use this authority to lovingly correct those who are in danger of losing their way. Teach me to Love others as You Love me Lord. In Jesus name ❤️ Amen
My Final Thoughts & Encouragement…
Where do you see yourself today? Are you on the sunny side of life, soaking up the pleasures and beauty around you… if so, Praise God and shout your praises to Him who gives you all things. Or, maybe your like me sitting in the greys of your own scrambled choices.
Take heart and look up, We will all mess up from time to time. God knows well our human limitations and failures, this is why He paid the price for us. He wants us to learn from our mistakes and He wants to redeem them for His Glory. If you let him, He will use your Mistakes to become His Ministry.
I urge you friend, don’t hide your past in a closet or bury it hoping it never reveals itself. I promise you one thing… Your sins will always catch up with you, see: Numbers 32:23NIV. The enemy will try to convince you to keep it in the dark, but Luke 8:17 NLT tells us that “everything concealed will be brought to light and made known”.
To learn from our sins and our failures we first need to acknowledge them. Then we need to ask God to forgive us for them and we need to move forward, learning from those difficult lessons so that we don’t fall again in the same way. Allow the Light of Jesus to shine through your failures so that He will be Glorified in and through you.
Blessings, Janet❤️. Journey4Jesus
Do you know Jesus ? He’s waiting for you… ( click the link to learn more)
{ If this benefited you in any way, I’d love to hear from you and I would be thrilled if you would share or invite more people to be encouraged. }
Journey4Jesus 
Thank you Janet for taking the time to write this blog. I need this today.
LikeLike
I’m really glad it spoke to your heart Teal. I really Love how God used our experiences for others ♥️🙏🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person