Day Forty Eight: Growing in Grace in The Midst of A Storm
By now most of us are pretty much over the "hype" surrounding this virus. Many of us are now seeing the devastating effects the enforced lock downs are having, even to our food supply chain. Some are saying that it could get worse, while others are siding on the positive side. God is already doing a miraculous thing here. This frightens those who are currently in power in some states. They like the control they have over their citizens. What they don't realize is that if enough people protest against the lock downs and restrictions, they will have blood on their hands. Frankly they already have blood on their hands from this enforced lock down.
The negativity is intense. Yet we do need to remember something. God is in control. In Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV) we read: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Yes, we are still in the midst of this storm, but the waves are abating. Those are attempting to ramp up the waves by insisting on enforcing draconian measures now will soon have to face a reckoning. I believe that. Whenever I think about this current situation with our governor and with other governors across the country, I realize that God's grace is greater than mine. I'll be honest with you. I'd be wishing the worst for those governors, and want to make them suffer the way their citizens are suffering now. I'm thankful that as it says in Psalms 103:8 (KJV) "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." I also have to admit that this situation has helped me grow in grace. Someone once told me that trials and tribulations are the "gym" for spiritual growth. You have to admit that storms often provide the ability to grow stronger in our faith.
Isaiah 30:18 is clear that God is a God of Judgement. It is the one glaring thought that has stuck with me through the days of this lock down. Who are we to say that God is not judging us right now? I think it is only when we get to the point of understanding that God hates sin, and does judge people for their sins that we begin to appreciate his grace. Here's the verse: "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of Judgment; blessed are they that wait for him." I believe that he will be exalted and is being exalted right now through this pandemic. He offers grace and mercy for those who wait for him. Wow!
In 2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV) we get even a clearer picture. "(God)Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." It was Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary that gives us that grace. Hebrews 4:16(KJV) states: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." It is not of my own power or my own selfish attitude at times that will extend grace. It is the Lord's spirit in me that extends grace, even to those politicians that are hell bent to destroy society as we know it.
So, where are we now? I believe that as it states in 1 Peter 5:10(KJV) that we are growing in grace in the midst of this storm. The passage reads as follows: "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you." If you recall yesterday's blog post, you know of my longing for stability. Jesus Christ is that stable force in an unstable world. Thank you, God for your grace towards us.
The negativity is intense. Yet we do need to remember something. God is in control. In Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV) we read: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Yes, we are still in the midst of this storm, but the waves are abating. Those are attempting to ramp up the waves by insisting on enforcing draconian measures now will soon have to face a reckoning. I believe that. Whenever I think about this current situation with our governor and with other governors across the country, I realize that God's grace is greater than mine. I'll be honest with you. I'd be wishing the worst for those governors, and want to make them suffer the way their citizens are suffering now. I'm thankful that as it says in Psalms 103:8 (KJV) "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." I also have to admit that this situation has helped me grow in grace. Someone once told me that trials and tribulations are the "gym" for spiritual growth. You have to admit that storms often provide the ability to grow stronger in our faith.
Isaiah 30:18 is clear that God is a God of Judgement. It is the one glaring thought that has stuck with me through the days of this lock down. Who are we to say that God is not judging us right now? I think it is only when we get to the point of understanding that God hates sin, and does judge people for their sins that we begin to appreciate his grace. Here's the verse: "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of Judgment; blessed are they that wait for him." I believe that he will be exalted and is being exalted right now through this pandemic. He offers grace and mercy for those who wait for him. Wow!
In 2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV) we get even a clearer picture. "(God)Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." It was Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary that gives us that grace. Hebrews 4:16(KJV) states: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." It is not of my own power or my own selfish attitude at times that will extend grace. It is the Lord's spirit in me that extends grace, even to those politicians that are hell bent to destroy society as we know it.
So, where are we now? I believe that as it states in 1 Peter 5:10(KJV) that we are growing in grace in the midst of this storm. The passage reads as follows: "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you." If you recall yesterday's blog post, you know of my longing for stability. Jesus Christ is that stable force in an unstable world. Thank you, God for your grace towards us.
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