"And
the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father),
full of grace and truth."
John 1:14
The Gift Of Grace
"The Word was made flesh"
immediately evokes images of the
Christmas story and a tiny babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes.
"And dwelt among us"
reflects the great tabernacle in
the midst of the tents of the
children of Israel
as they moved from oasis to
oasis in the Sinai Desert.
God's house among our houses! We see it each day in cities and
towns. On a quiet street a
clapboard church shares a place
with the homes of working
families. An ancient brick
church stands between towering
skyscrapers. A cathedral thrusts
its spire heavenward. Each gives
its silent testimony to God who
dwells among us in Word and
sacraments. He lives among
ordinary people going about
their ordinary lives. Jesus, the
Word made flesh, is part of
birth and death, part of the
lives of business people,
farmers, homemakers, students,
and children. He listens to our
prayers, rejoices in our
laughter, and shares our tears.
Miracles, Signs and Wonders? The greatest miracle of all is that
miracle of love that God
forgives us for Jesus' sake. By
the power of the Holy Spirit, we
see them! We live them!
"By whom also we have access
by faith into this grace wherein
we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God." Romans
5:2
Have you ever felt depressed, desolate, on the verge of despair
because of some wrong you have
done? A deliberate lie? A
deliberate sin? Did you feel
guilty before God? If so, that
was a condemning message of
God's Law. His Law demands
perfection; it passes judgment.
"For the law was given by
Moses, but grace and truth came
by Jesus Christ."
John 1:17
"Moreover the law entered,
that the offense might abound.
But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound."
Romans 5:20
On the other hand, did you ever feel free as a bird, completely at
peace with God, fully forgiven
through faith in Christ,
consciously living in His grace?
That is because you have heard
and believe the message of His
Gospel.
"And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace."
John 1:16
"Thou art fairer than the
children of men: grace is poured
into thy lips: therefore God
hath blessed thee for ever."
Psalm 45:2
"As any man hath received the gift, even so minister the same
one to another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God."
1Peter 4:1
Our Lord challenges us as good
stewards to use our gifts to
make disciples of all nations.
It is an awesome task, but we
also have help from an awesome
God, whose Son died that we
might live, paying the price
that we might have forgiveness.
The awesomeness of God's power
translates into saving love.
"For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and
chains about thy neck."
Proverbs 1:9
"Chains about thy neck"
indicates an adornment or thing
of beauty in one's life. "So
shall they be life unto thy
soul, and grace to thy neck."
Proverbs 3:22
"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus:
and great grace was upon them
all."
Acts 4:33
"Who, (Barnabas) when he
came, and had seen the grace of
God, was glad, and exhorted them
all, that with purpose of heart
they would cleave unto the Lord."
Acts 11:23
"Long time therefore abode
they speaking boldly in the
Lord, which gave testimony unto
the word of his grace, and
granted signs and wonders to be
done by their hands."
Acts 14:3
Unmerited favor is bestowed through REDEMPTION ~
"For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus: Whom
God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission
of sins that are past, through
the forbearance of God."
Romans 3:23-25
A commentary on the use of God's gifts to us is provided by the
story of the small boy who
scraped together enough coins to
buy a fine pair of gloves for
his mother's birthday. Weeks
later he noticed his mother's
still chapped hands and asked
why she wasn't wearing the
gloves. She said she was so
thankful for them that she was
saving them. His noteworthy
response: "But, Mom, you thank
me best when you wear them!" How
very true also of the special
gifts God has given to us!
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, whether prophecy,
let us prophesy according to the
proportion of faith." Romans
12:6
I pray you be with us, Lord Jesus, and bless us with Your grace and
truth as we come and go.
Thank you for the gifts you have
given us ~ please help us use
them in service of you, our Lord
Jesus, for His sake. Amen.
"Lord Dictated
Them"
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