God brings in tests. He gives us love. He gives us grace. He gives us mercy. He gives more love, more grace, and more mercy. Then He says, “I’m going to test how you use what I give you.” Because He gives the grace, the love, and the mercy, and does it all freely, we don’t have legalism as an excuse. Instead, we can only respond through unmerited favor through divine favor.
In Proverbs 23:26, God says to each of us, “I want all of your heart.” Is that fair? Don’t we have our own rights and options to consider? After all, we have things we want to do with it. He might say to someone, “Would you give Me your heart? I’m not going to tell you what I plan to do with you. You will have to trust me with it.” Is that fair? People are afraid to lose their lives. They want to, they’d like to, but some are not going to do it.
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (I Peter 2:21). If you have fears, you haven’t given the Lord all of your heart. Could this mean that I might not have a place to lay my head if I give Him all my heart? The answer is yes. But the rewards far outweigh the cost.
- Atmospheric Cycles - January 30, 2018
- A Walk That Defeats the Enemy - July 14, 2017
- Don’t Be an Abstract Christian - March 18, 2017
