“The Refrain of Grace"

  "The Refrain of Grace"

     Our spiritual enemies cannot steal the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ from our lives - "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  Thus, as in the case of the Galatian Christians tempted to add ritual to salvation, our foes seek to nullify our experience of Christ's presence - "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4).

    The more we realize our Lord's faithful and abiding presence in our hearts and lives, the more likely we are to avail ourselves of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).  Our enemies know this better than do we ourselves.  They constantly seek to discourage our "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).  We counter by remembering and affirming the ongoing refrain of grace declared in the pages of Scripture regarding a Savior and a salvation "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).  Such confidence leads to the expectation of faith whereby our hearts and minds are far more likely to realize and recognize the dynamic presence of our Lord's working in our lives.  However, if we allow our enemies to cast a shroud over our awareness of the abundant life of the risen Christ, we expect little and receive according to our stilted anticipation.  We "fall from grace" and "Christ is become of no effect" in the sense that we fail to avail ourselves of His glory because disbelieve the reality thereof.  "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

    We need not - we must not - live our lives as if our Lord has left or forsaken us.  He has not - "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).  Our enemies would tell us otherwise.   They are liars. Thus, we join Moses, who "endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27).  We overcome the clouding and enshrouding attacks of our spiritual foes by believing the Word of God that word after word, verse after verse, and page after page declares the presence, power, and involvement of the Lord in His people - "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).  We arise, we open our eyes, and we testify that "the Light shineth in darkness" (John 1:5).  It does - He does - and the devil himself cannot douse the illumination in all who immerse themselves in promises that cannot be broken, and in Truth that forever abides.

"As You Go"

     

I wait for you, My child, wherever you may go.

I'll be there when you arrive,

I'll be with you as you go.

We live our life together, you venture not alone.

Our hearts made one forever,

united in My Son.

I wait for you, My child, I'll be with you as you go.

I made you for such grace, to be My Spirit's home.

Oh, look into My face,

and with assurance know

that we'll always be together,  you'll never be alone.

We'll be as one forever,

each other's love to know.

I wait for you, My child, I'll be with you as you go.

Forever beckons to us, as does this day, this hour.

My Spirit's peace imparts

the presence and the power

for you to journey with Me, in darkness or in light.

I am in your heart forever,

and in this day, this night.

I wait for you, My child,  I'll be with you as you ago…

I'll be with you as you go.

"The Lord thy God, He it is that shall go with thee."

(Deuteronomy 31:6)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

(Proverbs 15:1)