Abundant Grace

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Whose Will Is to Be Done?

“God, who made the world and everything in it, He is Lord of heaven and earth” Acts 17:24 NKJV

The jewel of this petition is a lockbox treasure for our minds and hearts. While it often seems that the god of this world is firmly in control, the Bible assures us differently. God is at work preserving the saints. He is at work reaching the lost. He is at work judging nations. He has a divine will for this world and we beseech Him to fulfill it. The scriptures assure us that God neither slumbers nor sleeps. His watch care is certain and His power is active in heaven and earth.

Most importantly, perhaps, is that when we pray for His will to be done we remember who it is who is praying. We are praying. We are His children. We are asking for Him to reveal His will and power in us for His glory sake. We are testifying of our submission to His divine plan. We can make this petition very personal and say, “Thy will be done in me as it is in heaven.” Then we carry this jewel of purpose with us all day long and let its radiance shine to all God’s creation.

Precious Father, Help me today to be a willing vessel of Your will. Amen.

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Monday, February 8, 2016

Thy Will Be Done

“For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Mark 3:35 NKJV

Never have rubies been found more precious than those formed by the drops of blood Jesus sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were jewels of grace for us. He, the Son of God, innocent of any sin, faced the dread cross of Calvary and certain separation from the Father. He who knew no sin was to become sin for us. Yet faced with agony of body and soul He prayed, “Thy will be done.” When Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done”, He knew what it meant.

Hebrews tells us that Christ despised the shame of the cross. He the maker of wood and iron became the sacrifice on the bloody cross for our sins. What was His strength? Hebrews also tells us that He looked forward to the resurrection and reunion with the Father. Glory awaited Him and He endured the cross in anticipation of the seat at the Father’s right hand. The resurrection and glory that awaits us is also what Paul tells us is the means to endure the shame of Christ in this life. In the hope of Christ we say, “Thy will be done.”

Precious Savior, Strengthen us each day to say with You, “Father, Thy will be done.” Amen.

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Friday, February 5, 2016

Thy Kingdom Come

“The Lord of Hosts is His Name. He shall be called the God of the whole earth.” Isaiah 54:5 NKJV

In the Tower of London visitors can see the crown jewels behind a protective glass. All the glory and pride of English royalty is there on display, but it is not at that particular time on the head of the queen. There is a grand celebration at the time it is taken out and placed on her head. At His first advent Christ’s crown was inglorious. He was king and told Pilate that He was. But the crown He was given to wear did not come from a mine of precious jewels but from a thorn tree. The crowns that His brothers and sisters have worn for generations have also been crowns of thorns.

It shall not always be that way. He shall come again. He shall come in the glory of the Father and with the angels in heaven. He will sweep away all the corruption of earth and set up a righteous kingdom that has no end. Paul said that in that day we will be glorified with Him. Until then we can let Him reign as King in our lives to the praise of His glory.

Precious Father, Help us patiently and obediently wait for Thy kingdom. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen

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Thursday, February 4, 2016

The Glory of His Name

“Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.” Ps 113:2 KJV

Here is the crown jewel of adoration. Nothing is more radiant, more glorious and more vibrant with life and beauty than the Name of the Lord. As the psalmist said in another place, “His Name alone is excellent”. Here we are at the throne of grace and we get to declare our adoration and praise and say, “Father, You are excellent. You are perfect. You are holy.” All the bells of our mind are ringing out and resounding with praise at the Name of the Lord. Our eyes are blinded by the glory of this precious jewel while our heart leaps with exaltation.

With all the passion of our being we kneel before Him and say, “Let me make Your Name glorious in my life.” What joy, what exuberant joy enthralls us as we give up ourselves in utter abandonment to the glory of that Name. Every fiber of our being cries out; let the magnificence of that precious jewel glow through me. Let its brilliance shine so brightly that I am hidden and only He is seen. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth.

Precious God, let the glory of Thy Name shine clearly in me today. Amen.

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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The Heavenly Father of Earthly Compassion

“And I said: ‘I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God’.” Neh. 1:5 NKJV

What a priceless jewel it is to have a God who is above all. Nehemiah saw Him as the great and awesome God of heaven. Isaiah saw Him as the God who was high and lifted up. He is no mere mortal or creation of mortal imagination. He is as Moses said, God of heaven and earth. There is no dominion where He cannot hold sway and no secret that is hid from His sight. This is the God who asks us to call Him Father. This is the God, the only God, who in love sent His Son to redeem us as a people for Himself. This is the God who promises us a home with Him in His eternal heaven forever.

His heavenly throne is one of power and also of mercy. His throne is one of judgment and also of amazing love. His throne is the seat of law and the seat of grace. We come to this Father in heaven by His own invitation, through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, and share our hopes, our cares and needs with Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for admission to Your throne of grace. Amen.

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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

OUR Father, HIS Family

“No longer as a slave but more than a slave -- a beloved brother” Philemon 16 NKJV

There is another beautiful facet on the diamond of God’s grace that we find in the first two words of the Lord’s Prayer. Actually it is the first word, OUR. In His wonderful grace God has placed us into a new family. We become part of His body, the Church, the bride of Christ. The world can be a lonely place. It is hostile to God and His Word. We can begin to feel small and alone in this world. But we are not alone. We are part of that great Christian body, the Church of God on earth.

God has placed us into a new community of common purpose. Others also want to see the Name of God glorified, His Word bear fruit and righteousness prevail. Within this body we find the love and support that the world cannot give. We find a bond of fellowship and love that transcends culture, status, wealth and other human boundaries. We come together in hope before OUR Father. He cares and loves and hears us all. Onesimus the slave became the brother of Philemon the owner. Together they speak to us the great joy of Christ’s body, the Church.

Precious Father, please help me today to rejoice in your body, the Church. Amen.

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Monday, February 1, 2016

Abba, Father

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 NKJV

Grace is like a finely cut diamond. It is brilliant with many facets that glow and shine. Many facets of grace are found in the Lord’s Prayer. The first is found in just the first two words, “Our Father”. There is the grace of adoption by God and brotherhood with Christ. What a wonderful family we have been granted by grace. God the Father Almighty is our Father. Nothing is too hard for Him to do for us. Christ is our brother. The totality of our failed human condition is known to Him, but He receives us by grace.

The simple word, Father, alone raises us to the ecstasy of belonging to God. We are His children by His grace. He sought us when we were in rebellion against Him and clothed us with the garments of heaven. He feeds us with the bread of life and holds our hand during each moment of our daily walk through life. He loves to hear our chatter and delights when we crawl into His lap for a close snuggle. O dear and precious words, “Our Father”.

Dear Precious Father, our Father, comfort us with these words of grace today. Amen.

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