Why I Need Faith Grace and Scripture Every Day - Part Two

If God dealt with me purely on what I deserved, I would be in trouble. Grace is the reason I am not.

Grace is a word that Christians throw around, but many people, including some Christians, don't really know what it means. Some think it means God overlooking sin. Others think that grace is just kindness or “good vibes.” Biblical grace is far deeper than that.

So what is grace?

Grace is God giving undeserving sinners mercy, salvation, strength, patience, and kindness through Jesus Christ.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians - 2:8-9

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." Titus 2:11-12

Grace saves.

Grace sustains.

Grace transforms.

Grace saves because we cannot save ourselves through good works, being a good person, or balancing out the bad deeds with the good deeds. It’s not look what I did for God. It’s look what He did for me.

Grace sustains us. Grace does not stop once we are saved. We need it daily. Many Christians struggle because they understand grace for salvation, but then try to live the Christian life through sheer effort and perfectionism. It does not work. I’ve tried. Grace is essential every single day.

Grace gives us strength when we are weak, comfort when we are despairing, endurance during suffering, help in temptation, and assurance when we are struggling.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Grace transforms us. Grace isn’t just forgiveness. It changes us. Sometimes it is a radical overnight change. Sometimes it’s a gradual process. Either way, grace transforms because the believer is no longer spiritually dead and alone trying to manufacture goodness through willpower. God is actively sanctifying us.

You can see examples of radical transforming grace in the Bible. These are just three examples:

• Zacchaeus became generous after encountering Christ.

• Peter transformed from fearful denier to bold preacher.

• Paul transformed from persecutor to apostle.

Grace saves us from sin, sustains us through weakness, and transforms us into the likeness of Christ.

Those of us with anxiety that just will not go away, no matter what we do, can rest easy that no matter how hard things get in our fear-stricken state, God will send us His grace. He will not leave us to fend for ourselves or to rely on ourselves. He knows we are but dust and that we are weak.

Even those we may look upon as strong or brave are weak compared to God. Look at Paul the Apostle. He was brave and fearless for the Lord. He was beheaded for the Lord. I can’t even manage to go into the supermarket, but this man willingly gave up his life. All of the disciples did, as do many Christians today. But even Paul needed grace. Grace is what makes these people brave for the Lord, even unto death.

Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, as we see in Scripture.

"I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

There is much discussion and debate on what the thorn actually was. There is a great article here at Got Questions if you want to read it - https://www.gotquestions.org/Paul-thorn-flesh.html

We were never told what it was, but I think that perhaps God, in His wisdom, intentionally withheld it, so that we who are being tormented as Paul was could take comfort from this passage. I know I do.

Anxiety is tormenting and it is an affliction. We have all prayed for it to be removed, but if, like Paul, He has said no, you can rest knowing that He has left it for a good reason. Paul had to have a thorn to keep him from becoming conceited.

I’m certain that God has not taken this torment and affliction from me for good reason. I can honestly say that He has made me a better person because of it. It has humbled me in ways that nothing else could have. It keeps me reliant on Him. My natural tendency is to do everything myself and not ask for help. I only trusted myself to do things. I refused to rely on anyone else. Those days, though, are gone. I need to ask for help from God daily. I need to rely on God for all things, great and small. I thought I was strong, but I am weak. I trusted only in myself. Now I trust only in Jesus Christ.

The older I get, the less impressive I become to myself and the more astonishing God’s grace becomes.

So that is why I need grace every day. Next up is why I need scripture every day. If you have read part one covering why I need faith every day, you can find it here - Why I Need Faith Grace and Scripture Every day - Part One

God Bless xx