A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Friday, June 28,
2019
"The Grace By Which
I Stand"
Message
summary:
Nothing lasts,
except the grace of
God, by which I
stand!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1,2).
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1,2).
Lord,
the feelings are
not the same,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained,
that as you're growing you must remember,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained,
that as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing
lasts, except the
grace of God, by
which I stand, in
Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
This
song touched me when
it first came out in
the early 80's but
its message
continues to speak
some 40 years later.
The late Christian
artist, Keith Green,
was a "contemporary"
singer when I was a
young Christian. His
lyrics are
Scripturally based,
expressive, and from
an honest heart,
often reflecting the
inevitable struggles
of living out our
life in Christ.
(We'll post a link
to the song below).It would seem that a portion of our text today is the springboard from which Keith wrote these lyrics "nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand".
Today let us examine this powerful portion of Holy Scripture.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith." This is a foundational teaching in the Bible, first expressed in Genesis 15:6 where we read that Abram believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. The prophet Habakkuk declares that, "The just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). Justification is powerfully and succinctly defined in the Westminster catechism as "an act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone."
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is the reconciliation aspect of peace. Sin and unbelief separates us from God, putting us at enmity (hostility) with our Maker. But a picture of justification is the cross of Christ which becomes a bridge for us to cross so that we, through Jesus' sacrifice, are reconciled with the Father and it is then that we find peace within our soul.
"Through whom (our Lord Jesus Christ) we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." The Apostle Paul asserts that this peace is a result of grace (unmerited favor) and is the very source of our present standing with God. Another song that comes to mind regarding this point is "Grace Alone".
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." The thief of our soul regularly attempts to rob us of our peace, rejoicing and hope in this glorious grace. We face the unique pressures of our own circumstances as well as matters common to all as we see this old world in such turmoil and craziness. Paul's words in Romans 8 are so instructive in this matter: "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Romans 8:19-21).
God's redeemed people come in such a grace variety package: young and old, red and yellow, black and white, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. Some are greatly delivered from the ways of the world, others greatly preserved. Some grew up in church, others on the street. Some have their pins indicating years of perfect attendance in Sunday School.* Others have ugly scars from their old way of life. All are overcomers and all are still overcoming. All are great sinners and all are greatly forgiven. All have standing in God's grace alone!
It is only through our Lord Jesus Christ that we are justified. It is only through our Lord Jesus Christ that we have peace with God. It is only through our Lord Jesus Christ that we have access to God. It is only through our Lord Jesus Christ that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. All this and infinitely more blessings we receive as recipients of God's grace. Today, let us rejoice in this grace in which we stand.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, there
is nothing
that brings
greater
satisfaction
than the deep,
settled peace
in my soul
that comes
from receiving
Your
forgiveness.
Jesus paid the
debt for my
sin. He
paid it in
full and I
fully commit
my life to
Him.
There isn't
one merit
badge I can
earn or apply
to my standing
in Christ, for
it is only
through His
grace that I
overcome the
power of
sin.
Thank You for
sending Jesus
and receiving
His death as
an atoning
sacrifice for
my sins. I
stand
uncondemned
and fully
forgiven
through Your
grace and I am
so thankful.
Amen.
*
Sunday School
attendance
pins: Does
anyone else
remember
Sunday School
attendance
pins? I was
raised in a
small church
in Belton,
Missouri. Mom
was diligent
in seeing that
her children
were in Sunday
School and
church each
week. Even
when we
traveled we
always went to
church and she
would have the
Sunday School
Superintendent
sign a paper
that we had
attended
Sunday School
and then take
it back as
proof for our
home church
Sunday School
Superintendent.
Each year we
got a pin for
perfect
attendance.
They were
added to the
growing
collection
to form a
ribbon of pins
such as on the
photo to the
left. My
brother Pat,
who is now in
his seventies
and served as
a faithful
pastor for
some 40 years
still has his
pins! In fact
he told me he
had thirteen
years just
like the
photo.I didn't necessarily appreciate it at the time, especially having to be a visitor in a class where I didn't know anyone but I am thankful for my mom's diligence in seeing that I was in Sunday School.
In 7th grade I was a real rascal and almost got kicked out of Sunday School. My teacher was a quiet-spoken Mexican/American named Joe Harding who persisted. Ten years ago I wrote a story about him simply called "Mr Harding". Perhaps it will be a source of encouragement to any working with problem kids.
Now
that I'm
farther along
in life I
considered who
I was like a
Joe Harding
to? Joe
Cullen came to
mind. He was a
young teenager
in the church
we served in
New England
and headed in
the wrong
direction. I
recall visits
with him in a
youth
detention type
center urging
him to follow
the Lord. When
we left New
England he was
still headed
the wrong way.
But he became
a new creation
and is now a
husband,
father of two
children and
ordained
minister. This
photo was
taken several
years ago when
I saw him at a
conference.
Early
yesterday
morning I was
visiting with
Phil Givler, a
salesman at
Smucker Home
Improvement.
The Scripture
verse on his
coffee mug
happens to be
one of my
favorite Bible
verses. "We
have this hope
as an anchor
for the soul,
firm and
secure"
(Hebrews
6:19).
A
reader
responded to
our "Old
Route 66"
message on
Wednesday with
this photo. In
that message I
had mentioned
that we were
married in
Sapulpa
Oklahoma. My
last night as
a single man
was spent in a
hotel just to
the left of
this spot.
Dave Simpson
was my best
man and worked
for Holiday
Inn at that
time and was
able to get a
discounted
room. Dave is
a businessman
in
Springfield,
MO and remains
a good friend.
(photo)
Yesterday
morning I
passed these
Lancaster
County
longhorn
cattle near
New Holland,
PA.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
Lord, the feelings
are not the same,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained, that as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
Lord, I remember that special way,
I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new.
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you,
And I bet, I could deny you too.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained, that as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
Lord, I remember that special way,
I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new.
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you,
And I bet, I could deny you too.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
"Grace Alone"
Video
Maranatha! Praise Band
Finally today:
Brief report
from Brooksyne from the
Joni and Friends Family
Retreat she is serving
at: One of the
enjoyable activities is
the wagon rides for
everyone. What I love
about Joni and Friends is
that everything is adapted
so that if it is possible
everyone gets to
participate no matter
their physical or mental
disability.
She will be
returning home today.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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