Obtaining Mercy

November 30, 2010

On this last day of November

I am Thankful…

…for my life.

 

I really love my life.

Oh, it is not always easy.

I'm sure, like you, there are things I would like to change.

If I could go back, I would right some wrongs and avoid some mistakes.

However, when all is said and done, I know that God has been gracious to me each step of the way.

• Even in my mistakes,
  
• Even during times when my heart was cold,
  
• Even when I allowed bitterness to grow,
  
• Even when I completely lost hope…

He has been so good to me.

The Lord has poured out His mercy on my life again and again.

He has filled my life with blessings that cannot be counted. 

(Even in a month of daily blogging…there were so many other things about which I could have blogged.)

He is daily leading me, as I seek Him.

God is good. 

He has blessed me with a good life…

…and I am very thankful!

 

 

November 30, 2010

On this last day of November

I am Thankful…

…for my life.

 

I really love my life.

Oh, it is not always easy.

I'm sure, like you, there are things I would like to change.

If I could go back, I would right some wrongs and avoid some mistakes.

However, when all is said and done, I know that God has been gracious to me each step of the way.

• Even in my mistakes,
  
• Even during times when my heart was cold,
  
• Even when I allowed bitterness to grow,
  
• Even when I completely lost hope…

He has been so good to me.

The Lord has poured out His mercy on my life again and again.

He has filled my life with blessings that cannot be counted. 

(Even in a month of daily blogging…there were so many other things about which I could have blogged.)

He is daily leading me, as I seek Him.

God is good. 

He has blessed me with a good life…

…and I am very thankful!

 

 

November 29, 2010

Today I am Thankful…

…that I am not under the Law.

 

Our pastor mentioned yesterday as he was preaching that if he wanted to lead someone to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour, he would not take them to the first 5 books of the Bible. 

He would lead them to the books of the New Testament, because although the books of the Law point us to salvation, the books of the New Testament tell us of Jesus Christ:

He is the One who fulfilled the Law and became the sacrifice for us.

My salvation is through Jesus Christ's shed blood on Calvary.  I do not need the blood of lambs to wash away my sins. 

So then, it seems logical to me that once I have salvation through Jesus Christ, I should continue to live my life through Him, as well. 

I am not under the Law, but under grace.

 

The Apostle Paul has much to say on this subject in the book of Galatians:

Galatians 2:16 –

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:21 –

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:2-3 –

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:13 –

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:24-25 –

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.   But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 4:3-5 –

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:   But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Galatians 4:7 –

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:9 –

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Galatians 5:1 –

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:3-4 –

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:13 –

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:16 –

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

 

Just as I was not saved by the Old Testament Law, I cannot live out my Christian life by living out the Law. 

I must live my life by faith.  I must allow the Holy Spirit to guide me through the Word and through those He has placed in authority over me.

Keeping the Law would be appealing to my flesh.  My pride would delight in keeping all the "dos" and "don'ts" and then reveling in the accomplish of all I had done.

However, the only way for me to live is the same way that I was saved:  not by what I DO, but by all Christ has DONE.

Romans 4:5 –

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

I am so thankful today that I am saved by grace, and that I live each day by grace.  The Law has been done away with by the shed blood of the perfect and final Sacrifice – the Lord Jesus Christ.

November 29, 2010

Today I am Thankful…

…that I am not under the Law.

 

Our pastor mentioned yesterday as he was preaching that if he wanted to lead someone to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour, he would not take them to the first 5 books of the Bible. 

He would lead them to the books of the New Testament, because although the books of the Law point us to salvation, the books of the New Testament tell us of Jesus Christ:

He is the One who fulfilled the Law and became the sacrifice for us.

My salvation is through Jesus Christ's shed blood on Calvary.  I do not need the blood of lambs to wash away my sins. 

So then, it seems logical to me that once I have salvation through Jesus Christ, I should continue to live my life through Him, as well. 

I am not under the Law, but under grace.

 

The Apostle Paul has much to say on this subject in the book of Galatians:

Galatians 2:16 –

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:21 –

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:2-3 –

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:13 –

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:24-25 –

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.   But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 4:3-5 –

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:   But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Galatians 4:7 –

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:9 –

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Galatians 5:1 –

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:3-4 –

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:13 –

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:16 –

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

 

Just as I was not saved by the Old Testament Law, I cannot live out my Christian life by living out the Law. 

I must live my life by faith.  I must allow the Holy Spirit to guide me through the Word and through those He has placed in authority over me.

Keeping the Law would be appealing to my flesh.  My pride would delight in keeping all the "dos" and "don'ts" and then reveling in the accomplish of all I had done.

However, the only way for me to live is the same way that I was saved:  not by what I DO, but by all Christ has DONE.

Romans 4:5 –

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

I am so thankful today that I am saved by grace, and that I live each day by grace.  The Law has been done away with by the shed blood of the perfect and final Sacrifice – the Lord Jesus Christ.

November 28, 2010

Today I am Thankful…

…for clothes that don't need ironing.

 

I was running late for church this morning, and again for choir practice tonight. 

For both services, even though I had planned ahead, I had to make last-minute wardrobe changes; and I found myself so grateful for the clothes that did not need to be ironed.

I know it seems like a simple thing, but it really lowered my stress level today, and helped me walk out the door focused on the service ahead.

Some days…it's the little things that make me truly grateful.