Grace For The Journey

  From one who testifies and teaches the Biblical truths of the doctrines of grace, the title of today’s blog might seem strange.  What is strange, however, is to see believers who have appropriated and appreciate these truths being led to glory in grace.  But as strange as this idea might seem, it is all too common in the church today.  How easily we lose sight of the grace Giver and focus only on what He has graciously given!

The Bible says in Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  Did you notice the one thing that David rejoiced in?

He rejoiced in what the Lord had done for Him!

The reason for his rejoicing is not the gifts but the Giver of the gifts found in this verse.

There are, of course, many more gifts that God gives to His children, but this verse lists a few.  The first gift is that God will be “a sun and shield.”   He will be our light and protection.  The world is in darkness and without protection.  And no amount of education, money, or power can give it to you.  So this is something that we have which the world does not.

The word “shield” can also be a reference to shade.  So when you feel cold and without life and distant from God, he will be like the sun, to warm you up and give light to your path.  But when you feel burnt out and overwhelmed with the trials and burdens or work of life, God will be like shade to you, to give you a place to rest, relax and gather your strength.

The second gift the psalmist mentions is that God “gives grace and glory.”  “Grace” has the idea of God smiling upon us, ready to give us all the benefits of being His child.  “Glory” is the ironic one. The world is seeking after glory and honor, but these things are only given to those who serve God.

Finally, the psalmist says that God will “withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly.”  This is a promise only to those who are walking uprightly.  This doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect, but that your heart is right with God.  Many of the promises for blessing, fellowship, reward, joy, intimacy with God, answers to prayer, and many other good things in life are contingent upon walking uprightly; upon obedience to God and His Word.

In spite of all the things that the psalmist received from the LORD, he wants everyone to see and focus not on the gifts He has given but on the greatness and goodness of the One who gives the them.

Countless Christians have lost their way

By disconnecting themselves from the Way.

• They glory in the grace given rather than glorifying the One who has bestowed it.
• They glory in their great faith;
• They glory in their growing commitment to their calling;
• They glory in their generous portion and place in God’s kingdom.

But they glory in the wrong things!

Every grace is simply a gift from God,

And if we are to glory in it at all,

It must be focused on

The One who has given the gift.

We need to be reminded daily of what the Bible declares . . .

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . .” (James 1:17)

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

This is driven home in verses like 1 Corinthians 10:12 which says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

You see . . .

It is not the grace given that keeps us standing firm,

But rather the Giver of the grace.

The only thing keeping us from falling flat on our faces is Jesus’ faithfulness to us, not our faithfulness to Him.

The Christian must never glory in any grace given.

Our glory is to be in God alone

Because our strength is only found

In our Savior alone.

Again, the Bible reminds us, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).  And the more you have, the more you are indebted to the One who has given it.

We must fix our eyes on

The Giver of the gift

And

Never on the gift itself.

Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) is the fount from which all our blessings flow, and we must continually drink from this fount if we are to grow in the grace we have been given.

Sip continually from the streams of strength that flow from your Savior and you will find yourself standing on a Rock that will never crumble, topple or tip you over.

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.”