Tag: Grace Series

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Grace Reaches into Darkness

I’ve never been the “starstruck” type, but touring the Warner Bros studio was fun. Actors occasionally traversed the lot on bicycles, waving to us along their way, and we nosed around the “Friends” set for a while. In the museum was a kiosk whereupon we could answer some basic questions to discover which WB cartoon character most reflected our individual personality types. Someone in our group asked me which toon had matched me best. “Road Runner,” I said, “What about you?” “Yosemite Sam,” he replied dispiritedly. Shifting his gaze to nothing in particular, his voice trailed off, “I’m such a jerk.” Though animated, the image was too vivid a reflection for him, revealing flaws he knew quite well but could not change.

The man’s frustration mirrors that of the apostle Paul. “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”1 This is the plight of our sin nature, unable to live what we know to be right. Frustrated, the apostle cried out in anguish, “Wretched man that I am! [Paraphrased: I’m such a jerk!] Who will deliver me from this body of death?”2

“God loves us enough to meet us where we are, and He loves us too much to leave us there,” so goes the familiar maxim. If it is cliché, then it is powerfully so, for it speaks of our much-needed transformation from what we were to who we are becoming. It is God’s desire that we be “conformed to the image of his Son,”3 and I can think of no better Biblical summation of such radical change than this: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.”4 For a few weeks, we will consider grace unto transformation, starting where God loved us enough to meet us—in our darkness. For “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”5

Who we are and who we are still becoming are most clearly seen when contrasted against what we were. So think back to the beginning of your journey in Christ, and consider how far He has brought you since then. Ponder the changes only the Spirit could have brought about in you. Use this not as a time to punish yourself for your past nor to despair over the struggles that remain, but realize the transformation God in His grace has already accomplished in you, and know He is working in you still.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. —Isaiah 9:2.

Father, thank You for meeting us in our darkness and for leading us in Your great light. Make us more like Christ, so others, too, will see Him and step into His light. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 Romans 7:18-19 ESV
2 Romans 7:24 ESV
3 Romans 8:29
4 Ephesians 5:8 NASB
5 Romans 5:8 ESV

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Our Surprising Superpower

“What is your superpower?” This is the “surprise” interview question everyone has come to expect. For hiring managers, it is an engaging means of testing candidates’ creativity, agility, adaptability, and composure. Job applicants, on the other hand, can seize upon the question as a fun way to feature their primo professional skills and character traits. If one possessed unshakable focus on mission and dogged pursuit of its aligned objectives, for example, he might light-heartedly claim Superman’s laser-like “heat vision” as his natural superpower and proceed to explain why. But what about “superpower” in a spiritual sense? Well, that’s different. Let’s see how.

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was, in part, a defense of his personal integrity and authority, for the church had been infiltrated by false teachers speaking against him and leading the believers away from truth. In response, Paul confessed his counterintuitive superpower before all: “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses.”1 What might inspire this bold apostle to glory in his deficiencies? Jesus had counseled him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”2 By grace, God freely flows His power through us for His purposes—anything “more” is actually less. Concluded Paul in humble submission, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”3

Over the past two months, we have been exploring “God’s grace in its various forms”4—His favor that overflows in abundance to us and through us to others. Strength is one such expression of grace, equipping us for a variety of purposes. From God’s “glorious riches,” for instance, He strengthens us “with power through his Spirit . . . so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith.”5 In inexhaustible measure, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”6 He gives us endurance in mission, “for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.”7 And even when we suffer, “the God of all grace” himself restores us and makes us strong, firm and steadfast.”8 Then let us, like Paul, “strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in us.”9 For our superpower is no longer a natural “what” but a divine “Who.” He is Christ in us.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” —Zechariah 4:6

Father, out of Your glorious riches, strengthen us with power through Your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.10 Work powerfully through us, Your church, and be glorified. In Christ we pray, Amen.

1 2 Corinthians 12:9b
2 2 Corinthians 12:9a
3 2 Corinthians 12:10
4 1 Peter 4:10
5 Ephesians 3:16-17
6 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV
7 2 Timothy 2:10 ESV
8 1 Peter 5:10
9 Colossians 1:29
10 Ephesians 3:16-17

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This Is the Way; Walk in It

Ours was a long-distance courtship. As Peggy was completing her studies in East Lansing, Michigan, I was advancing my career in central Ohio, so our time together was constrained to weekends spread four to six weeks apart. How we bemoaned those Sunday afternoon goodbyes! Yet this was our reality while Peggy finished school, so we consoled ourselves in that it was good to part for a season in order to enjoy each other’s presence for a lifetime.

Comforting His closest of friends on the eve of His departure, Jesus raised their gaze above the pain of the moment to the blessings certain to follow, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”1 As long as Jesus was on the earth, He could only minister in one place at a time, but now His Spirit would be everywhere all the time, and while the Son of God came to be with us for a season, the Spirit of God would abide in us forever. The outpouring and indwelling of Spirit is a gift of grace, lavished upon all who ask for Him in faith.2 But to what end?

As “the Spirit of truth,”3 He guides us into what is true, speaking not on His own, but only what He hears from Jesus, the Son.4 He speaks candidly about our sin, not to condemn us in our sin, but to turn us away from it.5 The Spirit “teaches us all things”6; He makes known to us what He receives from Jesus, and in so doing, the Spirit glorifies the Son.7 And as the “Spirit of grace,”8 He lives with us and in us.9 He is here to help us and to be with us forever, God’s presence for a lifetime.10

Then how does one receive this gift of grace? Peter tells us: “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.”11 He will be there for you. Always.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” — Isaiah 30:21

Father, thank You for this precious gift—Your Holy Spirit. Grace us to hear Him, trust Him, and follow His lead, both now and forever. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 John 16:7 ESV
2 Luke 11:13
3 John 14:17
4 John 16:13-15
5 John 16:8
6 John 14:26
7 John 16:14
8 Hebrews 10:29
9 John 14:17
10 John 14:16
11 Acts 2:38 TLB