We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain —2 Corinthians 6:1
The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.
“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).
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June 26, 2012
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Lord, I really like this song, but the lyrics need a bit of a tweak. Instead of when mercy found me, or when grace found me, they should sing; when mercy and grace find me. For years I thought Your mercy and grace were given me when I first came to You and then it was up to me to meet the standards after that. Thank You for showing me that salvation is not a one-time historical “happening” in my life; it is a daily, hour by hour minute by minute occurrence. Thank You for providing the love, hope, mercy and grace for daily living.
And God says…”It is interesting to watch believers come to Jesus for His love, mercy and grace, and then abandon them all for their own “effort”. The sacrifice of Jesus needs no help from you; it needs no assistance from your effort or trying. The sacrifice of Jesus needs no Christian service, or tithing. All these works will follow, when you simply trust Jesus. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own efforts or understanding and He will make your paths straight.”
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