HEARTS
ESTABLISHED BY GRACE
Hebrews
13:9a: “Do not be carried away by all
kinds of strange teachings. It is good
for our hearts to be strengthened by grace,…”
[strengthened = established]
We learned not to speak
recklessly—from the previous devotion—we never want our words to scar someone
for life. But words rise from
thoughts. Thoughts originate from our
hearts. It just makes sense to control
hurtful speech at the source.
Believers celebrate Jesus’
resurrection from the dead. Jesus is alive!
We also will live eternally—AND are
positioned in Christ today under God’s new covenant (eternal promise) of grace!
(God’s original covenant was obedience
dependent). People failed obedience. God’s covenant of grace is God dependent. God cannot fail. God wrote three laws on our hearts. (No one can say they didn’t know).
The royal law of love means loving
God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind—AND to love others like
we love ourselves. The perfect law of
liberty is believing Jesus to follow His teachings and live righteously—by the
power of His indwelling Spirit. The law
of faith claims as God’s kids everyone coming to Him through faith in
Jesus.
The Father’s love poured out with
these laws makes our adoption into His family simple. Our part is faith. Jesus makes sure no one who comes to Him is
lost. (See lesson linked below).
God makes Christian living simple by grace.
Grace is underserved, unearned favor
that Believers receive freely. Stressful
problems are brought before the Father in prayer. We leave problems on God’s altar for Him to
work out for our good. Ending prayer
with “Amen” tags prayer as true and Believer’s assurance that the problem is
handled.
Believers simply continue living
free from worrisome burdens.
Could life be made any simpler?
That’s how our hearts can be
strengthened (established) by God’s grace towards us.
God never intends for His kids to be
worried. He hates bad attitudes. Our Father wants His kids to be free to love
Him and one another. He wants us to
depend on His grace in all stressful situations. He wants our hearts to be at rest, burdens given
to Him.
Believers live stress-free resting in
Jesus.
Take Home Nugget
Flip side: those living in a world
without Christ worry and stress out.
What does rest in Christ mean? Believers
work! But Believers work while at peace. Jesus’ peace comes to us by grace. Jesus’ peace is neither deserved nor earned.
Grace is how Believers’ hearts
should be established. We’re confident
of His righteousness, healing, provision and protection. God’s blessings to His kids are assured from
Jesus’ perfect obedience and finished work on the cross.
Adapted
from “Let your heart be established by grace.” JosephPrince.org. January 22,
2016. Daily Grace Inspirations.
J.D.
Griffith
Most Recent eBook by J.D.
Griffith:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment