Alive and Well

Alive and Well

James 2: ²⁵ It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

 

²⁶ So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

 

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Feeling shamed from the weekend of drinking and carousing, I did not want to be around church people. I felt they would be judgmental and try to tell me more about what I was doing than the hidden things they were doing.

 

• I did not want to be a hypocrite.
• I was ashamed of my sins and simply wanted peace.
• I tried to stay away from “perfect” people because I felt there was no help for me.

 

James used a shocking example of faith. He mentioned the prostitute Rahab was put right with GOD through her actions. He did not focus on her sin, rather on her faith in risking everything to hide the spies of Israel to help them escape. He concludes his warning by stating faith requires actions.

 

My Observations:

• Sin may make me want to stay away from GOD, BUT JESUS forgave me of all of my sins.
• Shame may try to stop me from doing what GOD wants me to do, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT brings me comfort that I am redeemed.
• Doubt may place uncertainty in my path, BUT THE FATHER gives me a firm foundation that keeps me sure that HE loves me.

 

Let’s face it, sin can be a barrier to doing what GOD wants me to do. I mean, when I get caught up in sin, I feel ashamed and start making up excuses for not serving GOD’s people. Blame arises and false statements about GOD’s love pop in my mind. BUT GOD brings me comfort.

 

In the middle of my sin, CHRIST died for me. Not after I stopped sinning, in the “middle.” JESUS was watching me and you sin and died for us anyway. HE didn’t wait for us to try to clean ourselves up or to become perfect. HE saw my imperfections and said “I love you.” HE then said “Go” I am glad GOD is the ultimate forgiver.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer used the label “prostitute” instead of simply mentioning her name?
• Have you ever went through periods of trying not to sin and thought more highly of yourself?
• Have you ever wanted to run away from GOD because of a certain sin?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom, knowing HE loves you no matter what today?

Grace Terms

 

Grace Terms

Romans 5: ⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

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Realizing I was wrong I had to go to the person and ask for forgiveness. This did not feel good at all. When the person rejected my request, I felt even worse. I mean, I did what the manual said and humbled myself to ask for forgiveness. I wanted an immediate reaction that I did not get.

 

• There have been times when I asked for grace but wanted it on “my” terms.
• There have been times when I wanted grace but had an idea of what it should look like.
• There have been times when I was in the wrong, but I did not want to admit it.

 

Paul continues his explanation of JESUS. Paul had just mentioned that trouble brings on perseverance which grows character and enables hope. That hope is in JESUS. Paul also explains that JESUS provided grace to those who do not deserve it. HE died for HIS enemies. Who are HIS enemies? All of us.

 

• GOD saw every sin I would commit and while HE disliked all the sin, HE died for me anyway.
• GOD was extremely angry at anyone who would side with those who would kill HIS SON, and I was on that side, yet JESUS died for me anyway.
• GOD knew I would never choose HIM and I sometimes think “I don’t need grace” or tell HIM “this is what grace should look like”; but HE overlooked my broken thinking.

 

GOD’s grace is pure and is not up for negotiation. The only term HE has is for all humans to realize the need for forgiveness and to believe JESUS is the judge who forgives those who believe in HIM.

 

Asking for grace requires me to humble myself and not expect to be raised up to the level I once was before I messed up. GOD’s grace means I did not get what I deserved, and I am thankful HE loved me so much that HE died for me in the middle of being HIS enemy. I am grateful of HIS grace and accept HIS terms for my life.

 

• Are you wrong, but anticipating how grace should look?
• Do you think it is on the other person to show forgiveness “your way?”
• Will you stop placing terms and conditions on GOD so you can see how much grace HE has poured out to you and how much restraint HE has for not pouring out punishment on you daily?

Amazingly Chosen

Psalm 65: ¹ Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.
² You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.
³ When we were overwhelmed by sins,
    you forgave our transgressions.
⁴ Blessed are those you choose
    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.

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“That’s funny, all the other windows look wet but my driver’s window looks dry” I thought to myself. Then I wondered if I left the window down. To my dismay my car had been broken into. The initial shock caused me to question. “Why did this happen to me?” “Was it the sin I blatantly committed last night at or after the club?”

• Sometimes I think life is a balance of being sinful and being good.
• Sometimes I think I can get my way by being good.
• Sometimes I think I am being punished for being sinful.

Quite honestly it does seem like more goes wrong when I blatantly sin than when I try not to. This perspective is very dangerous because it breeds controlling GOD to the point where I can commit sin when I want to then be good for a while to balance the sin. GOD is not a thermostat, nor is HE the justice scales.

• GOD saved me in the “middle” of my sins which took tremendous grace on HIS part.
• GOD saw that I would not choose HIM so HE chose me and I had nothing to do with that choice.
• GOD blessed me with HIS decision to forgive me and it is now my choice to accept HIS direction.

Being supreme means GOD’s decisions are final and cannot be questioned or challenged. HE can take me low or lift me up. HE can choose some to live and some to die. HE answers my prayer with careful planning so I should never be upset with the answer because HE has a wonderful plan for me. Praise awaits YOU, my GOD, in Zion for HE answers my prayers with supreme authority!

• Are you trying to steer GOD?
• Do you think you are getting away with sin or do you think you can balance your sin with good?
• Can you accept the fact that GOD ha already provided you with an enormous amount of grace?
• Will you release control of your life and let GOD guide your path?