How often do we need this thing called `grace`? I cannot imagine living my life without the knowledge that God's grace is sufficient for me. But do we actually understand the Grace of God?
Rth 2:8 Then Boaz spoke to Ruth: "Listen, my daughter. From now on don't go to any other field to glean--stay right here in this one. And stay close to my young women. 9 Watch where they are harvesting and follow them. And don't worry about a thing; I've given orders to my servants not to harass you. When you get thirsty, feel free to go and drink from the water buckets that the servants have filled." 10 She dropped to her knees, then bowed her face to the ground. "How does this happen that you should pick me out and treat me so kindly--me, a foreigner?" 11 Boaz answered her, "I've heard all about you--heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. 12 GOD reward you well for what you've done--and with a generous bonus besides from GOD, to whom you've come seeking protection under his wings." 13 She said, "Oh sir, such grace, such kindness--I don't deserve it. You've touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don't even belong here!" 14 At the lunch break, Boaz said to her, "Come over here; eat some bread. Dip it in the wine." So she joined the harvesters. Boaz passed the roasted grain to her. She ate her fill and even had some left over. 15 When she got up to go back to work, Boaz ordered his servants: "Let her glean where there's still plenty of grain on the ground--make it easy for her. 16 Better yet, pull some of the good stuff out and leave it for her to glean. Give her special treatment."
What an incredible description of the gospel in its totality:
As a stranger:
- Ruth was accepted –
- Boaz looked at her and loved her.
- He loved her first - she did not even know him.
The `grace` that Boaz bestowed on Ruth - gave her freedom.
- No longer did she have to scavenge for food.
- She did not have to be on the `look-out` for servants and guards who might chase her away from the Landlord's fields.
- She could openly come and go, to drink fresh water, eat from the Master's fields.
John 8:31 Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. 32 Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." 33 Surprised, they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?"
Jesus declared Himself as `the Truth`! Truth equals Grace
In Him we find freedom:
- Freedom from having to look for nourishment in other `fields`. The fields of strange religions and cultures and ways of doing things.
- In Him we find the Well of Living water, that gives eternal refreshing. ( Joh 4:10 Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.")
- In Him we can withstand the attacks of satan and we do not have to be concerned about his `servants` who will want to bother us. ( Eph 6:11 So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.)
- In Him is Grace - because He is Grace!
Grace - it is His grace that
- Strengthens us and carries us to the next level of maturity.
- It is His Grace that allows us repentance.
- It is His Grace that waits for us, while we drag our feet on the road of growth.
We do not forgive because of law - we forgive because we have been forgiven first. We love because we are loved. We share and give because we have received.
Rev 7:9 I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there--all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb 10 and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb! 11 All who were standing around the Throne--Angels, Elders, Animals--fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, 12 singing: Oh, Yes! The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, The honor and power and strength, To our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes !
We are to worship and praise, because we received all this and because He is worthy and deserving. It all belongs with Him.
Hoekstra wrote:
“When the subject of spiritual strength is raised, our thinking often turns in one of two directions. Either we consider how we can muster up our own strength, or we dwell on our own weakness, doubting that adequate strength can ever be found.
My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness . . . He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (2Co_12:9 and Isa_40:29-31)
God's word is also clear that an awareness of our weakness need never lead to despair over finding strength. Actually, the opposite is true.
- When we realize our drastic insufficiency, which, is a reminder of our qualification, to receive God's supply of strength.
· "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." Those who admit that they are weak are the very ones to whom God offers His strength.
Those who confess that they have no might at all are the people in whom God increases His strength.
- It is an amazing truth that God's strength is perfected (displayed the most fully) in the arena of our own weaknesses. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
- Whenever we agree with God concerning our complete frailty in any given area of life, His grace is available to meet the need. Whenever we personally look to Him to pour out that strength, we will find that it is sufficient. "Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength."
- Waiting upon the Lord involves hoping in Him, placing our expectations upon Him and not upon ourselves.
For all who depend upon Him in view of their own weakness", "they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
Thereby, our confession can be: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phi_4:13).
Rom 5:1 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us--set us right with him, make us fit for him--we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.2 And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand--out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. (msg translation)
Grace is the Father’s extravagant mercy and unmerited kindness toward us. God loved us so much that he personally came down to suffer with and for us, taking on Himself our sin, dying our death, and rising to give us His life.
That is a pure gift - through Jesus Christ.
Legalism says we get this gift or favour from God by doing something to warrant it. Or if we already received God’s grace, then we must do something to be worthy of it, to keep it, not lose it, and get more of it.
In essence, legalism has to do with earning God and other’s favour, approval and belonging through good deeds, resulting in controlling relationships and poor self-worth.
On the other hand, grace means enjoying God’s and other’s favour and approval, as a gift of love and mercy, resulting in mutually freeing relationships and rich self-worth.
In summary, legalism leads to and is characterised by the following:
- Motivation by guilt,
- Performance by obligation,
- Measurement by effort,
- Belonging by conformity,
- Well-being by approval,
- Success by externals,
- Security by submission,
- Self-image by comparisons and
- Immaturity by control.
Living by these (worldly) values results in the loss of self-image and dignity - through comparison, categorisation, condemnation and control.
However, grace leads to and is characterised by the following:
- Motivation by gratitude,
- Obedience by love,
- Belonging by relationship,
- Measurement by honesty,
- Well-being by wholeness,
- Fulfilment by inner contentment,
- Security by acceptance,
- Self-image by God’s values, and
- Maturity by taking responsibility and being accountable.
Grace restores and celebrates our humanity in the image of God, resulting in a healthy self-image - because of the value that God places on us in creation and in Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us 5 (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), 6 and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
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