Yesterday, I introduced the idea of grace with a diagram. We will build on that now, so if you missed it, go back and watch Tuesday’s content.
Grace is the most powerful force in the world, it is what makes Christian faith stand out like a jewel—the world craves it—people are so hungry for grace, often desperate for grace—and grace is there for all people.
Imagine grace in Syria, imagine grace in Iraq, imagine grace in a time of marriage breakdown, in your workplace. Just imagine grace everywhere…grace says there is nothing I can do to make God love me more, there is nothing I can do to make God love me less…how would that change the way people act in our world?
Imagine grace in your life…a fresh start, forgiveness, a relationship with God, and hope for the future. A certain way of life, of obedience to God’s way of living is an important part of this, but as outcome, the thanksgiving for God’s love, rather than a way of earning it in the first place.
We’re invited to practice living in God’s kingdom now. This affects many areas of our lives. It reorders our priorities, views of success, sex and marriage, money and possessions, and the poor. That is a big, loaded list.
From the outside, although it looks strange and different, those who practice living God’s kingdom here and now in these ways find that it’s exactly what they were created for – that they’re living according to the script written for their lives and their world, and it’s a natural fit like none other, even though it’s new and different.
We all want to be free, and so sometimes when we hear about laws, living a certain way, we think someone is trying to control or take away our freedom. But imagine a train, that gets bored running up and down its tracks, and looks at countryside, longing to be “free” of the rails. If it does hop the rails, it will meet with disaster and destruction, not happiness and freedom. A train is not designed for fields, but designed for tracks. A train is never more free than doing what it was designed to do…run on tracks.
It’s the same with humans, we’re designed by creator with a specific way of life. For best results, follow maker’s instructions.”
Question: Have you ever gone off the rails in life, thinking you were enjoying your freedom? What helped you get back on track?
Reminder: Earlier in this series, we saw the importance of reading the Bible together in sync, so our new daily bible readings start today in our mobile app and web site.
Read the Bible in Sync Today
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Today we look at how Jesus teaches us to stop worrying
Helene Hadfield said she doesn't worry about her husband while he's in space, despite the high level of risk involved in his work.
"If I did, I would go crazy. You can either spend your time worrying or spend your time enjoying the whole process and knowing Chris was loving every second of the time. For me to worry, it would be counterproductive because it would take away from his joy," she said.
"And I trust him. I trust that he can fix things and he knows what's going on and he's trained for so many years and he's so competent. But most of all, I just know that he loves what he does so it doesn't matter what the risks are."
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/hadfield-says-hot-shower-felt-so-good-after-5-months-aboard-iss-1.1280554#ixzz2TQQKwlUp
She has faith in her husband, but of course he's not God, he's just a man in the sky!
For our worries, the solution involves deeper faith, but in God. This is why Jesus says, “You of little faith.” He's not telling people with no faith to get on it. He's talking to his followers, people with some faith, and he wants them to deepen their reliance on him.
Apply him to all areas of life…trust him with his creation, rather than thinking its all ours.
Having God's kingdom as first priority means we can have all sorts of second priorities. Think back to the image of our water glasses last week - pouring into God's kingdom overflows into our worldly needs.
But if I worry about building my kingdom, I am consumed by worry.
Note that Jesus isn't saying he'll give you all your wildest hopes and dreams. He’s offering a bird's level of food and a flower’s level of clothing! Oh, and citizenship in his kingdom. That's what makes it all worthwhile.
Challenge: From your worry list, what do you love more than God? How can you love God first, and those things second? In what decision today can you extend a little more trust to God than before?
