Today's Scripture:
Acts 20:32
“Now I commit you to
God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
Today's Thought:
This verse comes at the conclusion of Paul's farewell to the
elders of the Ephesian church - a group he had spent much time with and a
church he had greatly invested in. In
these parting words Paul commends the elders to the word of God's grace. He does so with the promise that this grace
has the potential to build you up.
At times, some have been wary of grace thinking that an
emphasis on what God has done will somehow dampen our enthusiasm to live holy
lives. As we have seen previously, Paul
thinks just the opposite. It is only
when we live in daily recognition of God's grace that we will find the strength
to continue to grow. Grace, when
properly understood, does not diminish an enthusiasm to holiness, it amplifies it!
Without grace, we have no reason to serve. Without grace, we have no message to
proclaim. Without grace we whither away
spiritually. But with the word of grace
we find hope and a reason to serve!
Today's Prayer:
God, may your word of grace be ringing in our ears every
moment. May your mercy and forgiveness
be the inspirational cheer that keeps us serving, keeps us loving, keeps us
growing. We pray that your grace may
never be ineffective in our lives, but by your grace we may be built into the
graceful person you desire us to be.
Through Jesus we offer this plea.
Amen
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