Friday, August 15, 2014

"Empty Hands, Clinging"


   "Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him" (Ephesians 3:11-12).

    So long as we come to God through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we may always approach the throne so rightly termed "the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).

    In times of faithfulness, we must come to God not by our own merits, but by those of Christ.  In times of unfaithfulness, we still may come to God, so long as we approach with a repentant, trusting heart fixed upon the Lord Jesus atoning and high priestly work on our behalf.  Always by, through, and because of our Savior - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.  Or, as the hymn writer so beautifully penned, "Nothing in my hands I bring, only to Thy cross I cling."

    Such breathtaking grace makes possible a life of consistent fellowship with God.  The same grace also motivates and empowers our response to His invitation that we walk with Him in faith and faithfulness.  Indeed, the more we avail ourselves of our "access with confidence by the faith of Him," the more the Holy Spirit convinces and empowers our hearts to trust and obey God.  "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only" (Psalm 71:16).  "I will go" declares the Psalmist of his walk with God.  He also confesses, however, that the Lord's strength makes possible the journey, a strength that enables by focus upon the "Thine only" righteousness of God.

    We require the grace of the Lord Jesus for the living of our Christian lives no less than for the forgiveness and newness of life that began our relationship with God.  We keep our hands empty of our own merits, as it were, so they we may cling ever more securely to the cross of Christ.  Or, as the writer of Hebrews so beautifully described the availing of ourselves to the Power that enables our faith and faithfulness…

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
(Hebrews 12:1-2).
"By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly they they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
(I Corinthians 15:10)

Weekly Memory Verse
    Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
(Psalm 150:6)

No comments: