LEARNING DAILY

 

Romans 2:4, Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

 

God’s GRACE is not a license or His permission to do whatever you want to do!  GRACE does not promote sin!  To understand GRACE and God’s mercy should cause us to desire to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ in the way we live our lives.  GRACE, when understood, does not create within us a desire to sin thinking we will gain more GRACE.  No, as we understand GRACE you and I should be ready and willing to do what is right.

 

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense – GRACE!  The Bible tells that sin has kept us in bondage, a prisoner to guilt and shame and deception and fear.  Jesus came to take the punishment each of us deserves; by accepting what He did at the cross and believing in His resurrection the penalty for sin is paid and the Believer has no reason to live in bondage.  Paul wrote in Romans 6:6-7, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For He who has died [with Christ] has been freed from sin.”  “Paul is not saying it is impossible for Believers to sin, he is saying it is stupid for believers to sin.” (Max Lucado).

 

Okay, what am I getting at?  I’m glad you asked.  You might remember that I mentioned a few pages back that the Church, those who truly have given their lives to this GRACE that God gives, is no longer mentioned in The Revelation after chapter three.  Why is that?  It is because “God did not appoint us [the Church] to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

(2 Thessalonians 5:9-10).  GRACE!!

 

I know, people have been looking for the rapture of the Church since Paul’s day.  But, Jesus said, ”now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28).  We need to be alert because all the things the Bible gives as warning signs are very clearly happening!  We need to be sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ because the signs are telling us the time for the rapture could be at any time.  What I am trying to say is we must be living in the GRACE that only God gives through His Son.

 

This is a pretty special day for me.  I have no idea where time has gone but fifty-three years ago Charlotte walked down an aisle to join me in this thing called life.  It has been crazy since we were both twelve!  Just kidding.  There have been ups and downs, tough decisions to make, laughter and sorrows.  Together, we dealt with what came our way.   There have been tremendous joys watching our daughters grow up; and the blessings of four wonderful grandchildren.  God got ahold of us forty-five years ago and has led us together on a wonderful journey of His GRACE; one that has been amazing.  So, to you Charlotte, thank you for putting up with me!  I love you!

 

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