Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.

[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratiously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23-24 AMP

Have you ever tried to explain what is meant by the "Grace of God"?  How many times have you heard someone try to explain grace and mercy?  Some say it means God will keep forgiving you no matter what you do, since he already knew you would commit sin.  Others think God will not send anyone to hell because he is a God of love.  But then there are some who believe like me that God has richly extended His grace for all of us who would believe and trust in the blood of Jesus to cleanse us and restore us back to a righteous relationship with Him.  This extension of God's grace and mercy has come to show us how we should live - not to allow us to live as we please without consequences.

For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world.  (Titus 2:11-12 ) AMP

The scriptures in Titus 2 do not indicate that God intended for us to use grace as an excuse to live undisciplined sinful lifestyles.  My understanding of God's grace comes from my personal experience with the sorrows of a life of sin and the need for continual mercy and eternal redemption through Jesus Christ.   Today I can truly exclaimed "Oh what love"! 

See What [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown [be permitted to] be named and, called and counted the children of God!  (1 John 3:1) AMP

How many people do you know who are excited, happy and full of joy about the saving grace that has been extended to all of mankind?  Most of us never stop to think about how wonderful this act of redemption is to a wicked, fallen and depraved group of people such as us.   We could never fully comprehend the depths of the grace and mercy of God given freely to such people as us.

But God - so rich is He in His mercy!  Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).  (Ephesians 2:4-5) AMP

Those of us who have experienced the power of God's grace and mercy have been forever changed with an unquenchable desire to give our lives in total surrender to Him.  In spite of all the pleasures and pseudo happiness the world has to offer, we realize there is a uncomparable peace that comes from knowing that we have an eternal place in God's kingdom.

We may not fully comprehend the magnitude of the grace and mercy of God, but one thing we can be certain of, Jesus Christ died for sinners of whom we should all consider ourselves as chief.

One of the most important yet most neglected aspects of a Christian's faith is spending quality time with God through prayer, meditation and study of the bible.  Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ requires maintaining a disciplined lifestyle that is focused on establishing daily priorities. 

Most of what we do on a daily basis requires no additional thought or plan.  We do what we are routinely accustomed to doing.  However, spending time in the presence of God requires a concerted effort and decision on our part to pull away from the everyday routine of life to listen for instructions from our Lord.

Knowing how to balance the responsibilities of family life, work, church and other obligations takes wisdom  from God and a willingness to follow His leading.  It is quite easy to establish our own priorities based on what we or others deemed to be important.  Most times this attitude leads us into frustration, burnout and broken fellowship with God. 

In our quest to attain wealth, success and fame by worldly standards, we forfeit the peace and assurance that comes from having a fulfilling relationship with God.  Sometimes it is our own zealous efforts to have more "things" that causes us to stray away from God.

Better is little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it, (Proverbs 15:16)

We must remember as believers in Jesus Christ that we are sojourning in this world.  This is not our ultimate eternal home!  Therefore, we should acquire the attitude of contentment with godliness above wealth and fame.  This does not mean however, that wealth should be disdained or that we should not strive to achieve personal or professional goals.  It does mean that our first goal should be to spend our time wisely, especially as we see the evil times drawing nigh.

Godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.  I Timothy 6:6

Especially during this Christmas season and all throughout the coming year, let us remember to keep our focus on Christ as we enjoy the blessings that have been given to us.

So teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12

Remember it is so easy to be trapped in the "captivity of activity".

GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

Have you ever stopped to think about how much evil is being perpetrated in the earth today?  Does it bother you that we are sinking in a cesspool of murder, abuse of children, abuse of drugs and sexual promiscuity?  The bible explains the deterioration of mankind's morals and obedience to God in II Timothy 3:1-3; 5

BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters.  They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.

For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuiness of their profession].  Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. AMP

It sounds exactly like what we are experiencing today.  There is little to hope in other than God's promises to "never leave us nor forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5) and to "keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You"(Isaiah 26:3).  As we continue to live daily it will become more crucial to know and trust in the Word of God.  Going to church without having a personal relationship with God will not suffice.  We need the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to keep us confidently trusting and relying on what God through Christ has already provided for us.

So what is the answer?  Simply stated, a return to the commands set forth in the bible.  Jeremiah 6:16 states:  Thus says the Lord:  Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.  But they said, We will not walk in it!  God is still requiring a lifestyle of holiness for believers.  It does not matter how evil the heart of man becomes, the standard has not and will not change.

We should consider Old Testament saints such as Enoch, Abraham and Isaac and remember how they walked before God.  The pathway to eternal life is clearly marked by the salvation made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ.  We must go back and inquire of the "old path" which all believers have trodden in and embrace "the better or best way" and the more excellent way which is Christ.  He is the way of access to God, and acceptance of Him conveys blessings of grace.

Make a decision today to return to the eternal paths, where the good, old way is, then walk in it.

Thank you for your comments. 

I believe The Religion Trap provides a "wake-up call" for many of God's people and those who will become His. 

It is definitely time for each of us to take a realistic look at why we commit ourselves to church without first committing ourselves to God.  Does that make sense?  Of course not.  However, it is easier to do (or so we think) and requires no genuine love.  If we want to experience God's power and presence in our life we must be willing to forsake our learned (conformed) behavior and be transformed into the vessels that God wants us to be.

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adopted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].  Romans 12:2 AMP

A personal decision to accept Jesus Christ is incumbent upon every human being on this earth.  It is the most important decision we will ever make in life.  No one can decide for us and no one can make us decide.  God has given us His word to help us with making this most important choice that will determine where we will spend eternity.  

I choose Jesus!  What about you? 

Leading With Love

With the current state of fear and hopelessness that seems to fill the hearts of people in the world; the church of Jesus Christ is their only hope for restoration, encouragement and deliverance. As believers in Jesus, we should lead the way by sharing the gospel and the love of God to those who have lost hope in life.

For many, the foundation of our Christian walk has shifted from reaching out to others to focusing on what will benefit us. In order to heal this deficiency, we must turn to the one and only author of love himself – Jesus Christ. I John 3:16 says “By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]. God wanted us to see how much he loved us, even when we didn’t deserve this kind of love. His acceptance of us is not based on our decision to accept Him. Everything that Jesus did was based on God’s love for mankind and not mankind’s love for God.

One of the most profound statements Jesus made regarding how we should draw the lost to Him is expressed in John 13:34-35, “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another , Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

Notice in this scripture there is no mention of going to church, giving money, nor helping the poor. The Father knew that if we loved one another all the other acts of love would come naturally. But the focus here is on love – not religious acts. Our display of love for one another would automatically draw the lost to Christ. Especially today when we see so much of the opposite taking place in our society. Everyone would know there has to be something miraculous, something not of this world that would cause people to genuinely love one another, not just in word, but in demonstration.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices
with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails . . . I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

Whether we want to accept it or not, there is no force on earth greater than love. With it we can accomplish great things, but without it we will destroy one another. If we are indeed followers of Christ, love should be as much a part of us as the flesh on our bones.

If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detest, abominates) his brother
[in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he
has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.

And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him; that he who loves God shall love his brother [believer] also. I John 4:20-21

Think of someone today that you can show a special act of kindness. Do something that will cause you to sacrifice your time, money, or ability. Use each day to demonstrate the love of God and watch the difference others will begin to see in you.

When we begin to demonstrate love for God and for one another, then “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34)