DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL: The Lord's Grace

 Text: 1Timothy:12-20

Today's reading centres on the grace of God that was revealed in Paul. In Acts 7 through 9, we see that this same Paul (Saul by then) was a persecutor of the church. He was zealous in his faith as a Jew, ignorantly persecuting the early believers of Jesus. In due time, Jesus apprehended him on his way to Damascus and turned him into an apostle. Paul refused to forget the great favour that Jesus did him. He carefully, recorded it down for Timothy and for us. It reveals to us how large and powerful the grace of God is. It is so grand and mighty that it has the power to turn a man around completely. It is efficacious to wash away iniquity and  equip the recipient with an outstanding new life full of the power of God. It shows us that there is nothing too big for the Grace found in JESUS. 

There is no sin too great it cannot  wash away, there is no bad character it cannot change. The grace is able and capable to turn the worst sinner into a saint. This assurance gladdens the heart and helps us know that no one is beyond God's redemptive power. In our own eyes, the sinful, depraved condition of our world, country, societies, communities, family members, friends might seem so daunting and hopeless but the grace in Jesus is far greater than the power of sin and darkness. In Romans 5:20-21 "moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our lord. And in 6:18 being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. This is what our redemption in Jesus blood looks like. Sinful men are turned into righteous saints because of the greater grace made available by the shed blood of Jesus. 

Proclamation of this truth is the charge given to  Timothy here and also to us. That we should put up a good fight of faith, "war the good warfare" hold on to the faith with a good conscience and present the truth of the gospel to the world around us. This is our primary assignment as the elect of God. We must let the word about God's grace get out to all and sundry. It is the only power that is greater than the destructive power of sin and darkness that holds the entire world in bondage. This is the message of the kingdom; nothing more, nothing less. We must be careful not to become like Hymenaeus and Alexander, who have made a shipwreck of their faith by neglecting the duty required of the faith they professed. Being born again requires keeping step with the living saviour Jesus Christ through daily basic spiritual disciplines. Once we begin to neglect those disciplines our failure have started. Grace is free but it demands our all. May God help us to not make a shipwreck of our faith in Jesus name, Amen!

Read also:"Spirit Pray"

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