Sunday Morning it was hard to get moving. I missed the alarm, overslept a few minutes, spent a few minutes drying my eyes from a wayward tear, and rolled into Sunday school a bit late with a cup of not so great coffee in hand. Some mornings just go like that.
We are still studying the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. The resounding theme this whole book has been the people of Israel needed saving, yet they never looked to God. They were always searching out foreign rulers to become allies with and depending on them. This dependence often caused further troubles as they had to drain their country of resources to pay tributes to the alliance and the other kings then took notice of this little country’s inability to defend itself. They made themselves an easy target!
As we got to the congregational service, it too focused on relying on God. The visiting pastor asked us to consider “Have you forgotten that it is the Grace of God that brings salvation?” It is nothing we do, yet solely his forgiveness, his blood sacrifice, that makes us NEW. Our sin deserves death, but God wants to save us not destroy us.
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people”
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.
First, he confronts us with our sin, just like he did with the woman at the well in John chapter 4. He never had to condemn her actions; she already knew her sin. He simply made himself known to her.
John 4:25-26 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
This woman however did not STOP at knowing him. She instead shared her testimony of her encounter with Christ. Many from her town came to be believers because she was BOLD and proclaimed God’s GRACE!
John 4:39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
She is the perfect example of someone who shares Christ. Her life is not perfect and she’s willing to admit it. However, she could have simply received his FREE GIFT of salvation (Living Water) and kept that to herself. Many people do just that! Why? Because the enemy wants just to live in fearful silence. He wants us to be afraid that others will think we are weird. He wants us to fear MAN, not GOD. He wants us to believe that our words will not be received that God is not ‘really preparing hearts’ to accept truth.
Do you live in that fear?
Are you willing to be BOLD for the sake of the cross?
Another way to tell if you are living in the Grace of God like the Samaritan woman is to do a self-check.
• Have you forgiven others when they have wronged you?
• Do you carry a grudge that you need to let go of and forgive?
• What sin from your own past do you struggle to believe that God can really forgive?
We all have sin struggles, there are no perfect people. Most of us have things in our past that we are not proud of. Some of these things have shaped who we are today. Some have driven us to our knees at the cross begging for forgiveness. Others we have buried hoping no one ever finds out about them. You can be free of those burdens by accepting the Grace that God freely offers. No, it does not remove the earthly consequences of your sin (or mine!) but it does pay the eternal price for them.
The Apostle Paul shared in
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 that he prayed 3 times for God to remove a problem he was having. The answer given was: (vs 9) “And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
The thought that GOD can save a wretched sinner like myself, that he willingly died for me on my WORST day, brought a flood of tears during our morning worship service. I don’t always see the bigger picture. I don’t always like the answer of no, rely on me alone. But I am so grateful for the loving kindness of Jesus each day.
Titus 3:4-6 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”
After an afternoon nap with a few more tears staining my cheeks, I woke refreshed and ready to spend our evening with family. Having a photographer in the family has a double-edged benefit. Katherine took professional photos of Joe, Maitland and our 2-year-old granddaughter, then we got to have a family dinner. We were blessed to have Josh join us too. He has been working so much we have not seen a lot of him since August.
We gathered around our table to pray for Maitland as she soon will welcome the birth of their first son, but also as she celebrates her 24th birthday this week. She is such an encouragement to me. She willingly eats my “healthy food” that does not always look the greatest. Tonight, I made her a sugar free banana cake with cream cheese icing. It was yummy but not very pretty. Happy Birthday to my #1 daughter-in-law!! ((I often tease her someday she will have to share that title with 2 other daughter in laws Lord Willing...))
Our sweet little missy had Poppy and I,(Meme) go play out on Millie’s playground with her. My job is to catch her coming down the slide, Poppy has to climb to the top and help her across the bridge to the slide. What fun we have with this precious little one! We look forward to meeting the next one soon.
Proverbs 17:6 “Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers.”
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