Certainly, we realize that some people in our day and time think of God as a 'convenience' machine to be used as we rush from busy item one, two and three to the next. We wave at Him quickly in the morning and ask for our blessing. Yes, He is more than capable of keeping up with us. And, I know from personal experience, He understands and is very merciful while we rush through our normal 'times with Him'. But, there is the issue of 'growing in grace' that we need to learn more about. The apostle Peter ends his second epistle with an emphatic charge of 'how should we then live' in a day that looks closer and closer at the judgement time we ignore. It is just that; learning to grow in grace. We must learn more about this if we are to be His ambassadors.
The last few Sunday's we have looked at several aspects of accessing God's grace from the wonderful records of scripture.
First was looking at God's bringing His grace immediately to Adam and Eve at their first encounter with the fall into sin. While they hid in fear, trying to cover themselves and unable to keep their normal appointment with the Father, He arrives anyway ( and already aware ). God kept the appointment. And, He provides a covering for their sin. The first blood was shed because of sin, providing the model for God's promise ( grace) of the future, final remedy for man's greatest need, God's salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, the real covering for all our sin. We know this 'gospel' message was passed down because we see Abel offering in faith the required blood sacrifice an accessing God's grace. It was years later before we hear of his brother Seth and nephew Enosh following and 'calling on the name of the Lord". That is the first and all important beginning point of accessing God's grace. You cannot do the others unless you begin here.
Second was Abraham entering into the school of worship. Faith to call is the beginning. Faith to worship is the growing part. Notice Abraham did not start at the level of being able to offer the most precious possession of his promised son back to God. He began with answering God's call to go with Him so He could 'bless Abraham' to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. That's us folks. Again, God's grace given. In spite of some drastic failures of trust involving lying and taking reproduction matters into their own hands, God fulfills His promise to bless Sara and Abraham. Abraham became the 'father of faith'. . . faith to worship.
Lastly is faith to walk. This is the part where we apply the first two lessons as our own. Assuming you have called upon the Lord by faith in Christ Jesus and you are aware that Abraham's story is claimable as your own, you are ready to step out in your own faith to walk.
Colossian's 2: 6-7 gives us the key. "As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO ( in the same way) WALK IN HIM." If you have received God's grace of salvation by faith, you walk in that grace the same way, by faith. Taking steps of faith in what He says to us. Love those that hate you. Do good to those that do evil to you. Deal with sin as so serious, you would pluck out you eye rather than do it. These instructions of 'grace walking' are all through the scriptures. It is a Holy Spirit led walk, not a 'phariseeical' rule keeping exercise ( Col., 2: 11- 23). It is a resurrection walk ( Col., 3) because we are "dead and our life is hidden with Christ". It is trusting Him to guide you because He is IN you for that 'hope of glory' just like Abraham had.
Faith to call, faith to worship, and faith to walk are the keys to the door of accessing God's grace.
blessings,
Jack
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