The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Labor of Grace"
Rightly understood, no contradiction exists between grace and works in God's purposes. One is root - the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and His laboring presence in born-again believers. "Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). The other is fruit. "I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:29). The New Testament sounds and resounds with this "hope of glory" that leads to realized glory to God as what we do reflects the light of who we believe (Colossians 1:27).
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10).
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8).
"Faith… worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6).
"The exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:19).
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen" (Ephesians 3:19-20).
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith" (Colossians 2:6-7).
We awoke to this day with no calling from our Heavenly Father to live and work by the illusion and delusion of our own strength. Instead…
"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
This includes every aspect of our life and being. Whether literally or figuratively, we do well to begin our days on our knees, affirming our utter dependence on the Lord, who plainly stated, "Without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Indeed, the quality of life to which He calls us far surpasses our own abilities, dedication, and effort. "Walk, even as He walked" commanded the Apostle John, a mandate that would be sheer folly were it not for a power infinitely beyond our own capabilities resident within our spirits (I John 2:6). This involves all things in a life wherein Scripture calls us to "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31). Countenance, demeanor, attitude, word, and deed - the Holy Spirit works in all, that we may shine as lights of Christ by grace freely received, and grace powerfully active that results in our "striving according to His working."
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus proclaims the promise of both root and fruit. God calls us to "live by faith," that is, by a trust that results in the triumph of a life that honors our Lord by both what we believe and what we do (Romans 1:17). We labor by grace - God's presence and working, our response of faith and submission, and the character of Christ progressively revealed in us as we join Paul in his affirmation…
"We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
(Philippians 3:3)
"Faith without works is dead."
(James 2:20)
Weekly Memory Verse
We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
(Philippians 3:3)
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