"Access"

"Access"

   

    Availing ourselves of God's accessibility constitutes the heart of walking by faith.

    "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace whereby we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).

    Through Christ, born again believers "stand" in God's undeserved favor.  Such a place with Him means we can view every situation, circumstance, and condition with confidence, or in the Apostle Paul's terms, "hope of the glory of God."  We must access such grace, however, by viewing not only the blessings of life in terms of the Lord's goodness, but also our challenges.

    "We glory in tribulations also, knowing that patience worketh experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Romans 5:4-5).

    The current of life flows not by what happens to us, but rather by how we respond.  If we view our blessings in the realization of their Source and consistently express grateful appreciation, the sweetness of Christ will grace our spirits.  If we view our challenges as determined or allowed by God for His glory, our benefit, and opportunity to minister to others, the sustenance of Christ will again grace our spirits.  Life, as defined by God, is internal.  "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).  This does not preclude the significance and impact of external happenings.  We must deal with the matters of existence as they come to us.  Escape is not an option.  However, as those abundantly inhabited by the love of God, access to Him and His grace awaits us in every blessing and difficulty.  Be it appreciative thanksgiving for the pleasant, or affirmative trust in the  painful, there is always something internal to do as we live our lives in Christ.  We access grace, consciously stand thereby, and subsequently rejoice in the expectation that God's goodness awaits us in all things.  "I will be with thee" is the promise to His redeemed (Genesis 26:3).  "I will trust in Thee" must be our response (Psalm 55:23).

   Grace is always available to believers.  Access through Christ beckons that we direct our hearts toward God and the hope He offers.  The way, the internal way of the heart, is not easy.  Remembering and affirming our Lord's truth challenges all of us.  Thus, we must remind and encourage one another to make the choices of faith and submission that ensure peace, whether in times of the pleasant or the painful.  God's abundance is available.  Entree is granted through Christ.  The Holy Spirit dwells within us to reveal the Lord's love.  Escape is not an option.  Access is, "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  

"Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and to find grace to help in time of need."

(Hebrews 4:16)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "In Him we live and move and have our being."

(Acts 17:28)