The Work of Grace

November 12, 2017

Devotions:

        “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:7, 9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        Paul says that faith is of God's grace and not of ourselves.  Faith in our hearts is created in us when we hear the word of God. Romans 10: 17. The gifts of the Spirit are grace gifts.  They cannot be earned or merited but we can grow in the stewardship of the gifts that we have received.  When we are faithful in using whatever we have no matter how small it seems, God will promote us.  We are not faithful to be promoted but to honor God by demonstrating who He is.

        Our diligence is not a product of our will but a product of His grace within us. When you are frustrated in your lack of diligence, look to the greater one in you who was totally diligent to do the will of the Father.  He said I only do what pleases the Father.  He was diligent to do all the will of the Father. 

        Love is also by His grace and not our works.  If our flesh rules us we walk in selfishness but if we walk by the Spirit, that is looking to the greater one in us we will always respond in love.  He is love who dwells within us and who He has made us because we were created in His image and His likeness.  We feed our spirit on the word of God to keep at bay the lies of then enemy. 

        Finally Paul says that sowing and reaping, giving and receiving is a grace and not a work to try to get God to bless you and meet your needs. Grace says that it is already done. We believe that we have received the grace by faith to walk in all of these areas.  His grace is His life in us which puts unto posistion of favor with the Father.  It is all His finished work, we just believe that we have it and the believing is a gift to us as well.

            “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”  ‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬