MY FRIENDS WHAT IS THE COST OF DIVINE GRACE?

MY FRIENDS WHAT IS THE COST OF DIVINE GRACE?

Wikipedia defines Divine grace as a “theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation…”

Today let’s focus on the words to INSPIRE VIRTUOUS IMPULSES, AND TO IMPART STRENGTH TO ENDURE TRIAL AND RESIST TEMPTATION. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10. (KJV) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast…..”

The question we must now ask ourselves, if grace is a gift why would we need something to INSPIRE VIRTUOUS IMPULSES, AND TO IMPART STRENGTH TO ENDURE TRIAL AND RESIST TEMPTATION remember it is an unearned favor from God meaning we don’t have to work for it no matter how many sick individuals we visit, or how much tithe we give or food we give to the homeless.

No amount of work will ever earn Gods favor, it is God’s free gift, granted to sinners for our salvation. The story is told of a husband that was very demanding, so much so that he prepared a list of rules and regulations for his wife to follow with such details as what time she had to get up in the morning, when his breakfast should be served, and how the housework should be done.

Years later the husband died, time passed and she fell in love and married another man, who dearly loved her. This husband did everything to make his wife happy, continually showering her with tokens of his appreciation and love. One day she found tucked away in a drawer the list of commands her first husband had drawn up.

As she looked it over, it dawned on her that even though her present husband hadn’t given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband’s list required anyway and it was then she realized she was so devoted to her new husband that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation.

My friends Satan has devised a list of demands which is the burden of sin and the effects of what it does on the human race but “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ASV)

Consistent with this, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:8-9 (NASV) and because of the

love of a Father and Son and what they did and continue to do for our Salvation that is why we should LIVE VIRTUOUS LIVES AS WE GAIN STRENGTH FROM GOD’S SPIRIT WHILE RESISTING THE DEVIL AND THROUGH OUR FAITH ENDURE  and this we do out of love not obligation.

But as we move closer to Christ second coming sin abounds on a scale like the world has never seen before and the love of many [continues to]grow cold. Abraham Lincoln’s words explains it best, who stated in a speech over 150 years ago “we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all [our] blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” And too arrogant to care.

My friends think about all the time, and grace, God has given us to get it right, and then think about all the time we spend in front of our TV’s, or just pleasing self instead of serving the God who gave it all for our Salvation. Peter states in 1 Peter 2:21-25 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps………” So today my Friends ask yourself WHAT IS THE COST OF DIVINE GRACE? and how do we show or love for what has been given free to us.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY