Grace For The Journey

  The Bible says in Hosea 14:4, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely . . .”  Here we find all the truths of the Gospel in a single word: “freely.”  The Lord Jesus Christ showers His limitless love upon His people, and He does it freely – not because we deserve it and certainly not because we are in a position to earn it or demand it.

I want you to focus on this truth today . . .

I can assure you that today will be like no other day you have yet lived.

This one word – freely – rebukes every proud pharisaical

Heart that beats for the glory of the self.

And

It is also to be the healing balm for every broken

Heart that has been crushed under

the weight of sin and shame.

The love of God in Christ Jesus comes to the Christian believer freely, not because of anything we do or don’t do.

There is no condition that must first be met in order

To experience this love that is freely given to us.

It is simply the desire of the One who freely loves.

He loves because He is love.

And

He loves us simply because He chooses to love us!

The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4-6, “Just as He (God) chose us in Him (Christ), before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

Imagine for a moment that you believed at some level that

The reason for God loving you was rooted in you . . .

Perhaps because of your faithfulness to God

Or because of

Your fruitful service in expanding His kingdom.

What would happen when you found yourself less than faithful and far from fruitful?

You would question whether or not God still loved you.  You might well fear going out in a thunder storm!  You would constantly be looking over your shoulder, waiting for God to smite you for your imperfections.  However, when you read today’s text and see this word “freely” . . .

You are reading the sweetest note your Savior ever played.

Jesus loved you “freely” from before the foundation of the world; He wrote your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the earth was formed.  Jesus loved you freely when He raised you from death to life.  And Jesus loves you freely today, regardless of the love you have – or have not – been giving back to Him.

This truth should absolutely shake your world!

The love of God in Christ Jesus is given to us moment by moment, “freely,” without cost and without measure.  Jesus does not give us His love in increments – a little love here and a little love there.  Rather, Jesus pours His love down upon us from the fountains of heaven . . . love as unconditional as it is immeasurable.

So . . . what does this truth do for you today?

Does it bring you comfort?

Does it inspire you to new heights?

Does it convince you that you truly do matter to God?

Whatever this truth does for you this day, may it burn within your heart that the God of the universe loves you freely . . . He always has and always will!

God wants you to remember that He “demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

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