Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV)
Have you ever run out of gas? Maybe it was in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. Maybe it was in the middle lane of the highway in the middle of rush hour traffic. Whatever the case, it’s always a wretched experience. No matter how hard you try, your car won’t budge if the tank is empty.
Sometimes, I find myself expecting too much of those around me. I find myself short-tempered and frustrated when people don’t live up to my expectations. It’s times like these when I realize my “grace tank” is empty.
When I find myself struggling to show grace to others, it’s almost inevitably because I’m not living in the grace God has shown me.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us… Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV)
How can I live out the life Christ has called me to if I’m not living in the foundational truth of His grace?
It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been walking with Jesus, I still forget, sometimes, what He has done for me. I still find myself burdened by false guilt, feeling like I’m not doing enough to make God happy.
It’s then I need to go back to God’s Word and remind myself: I am entirely washed and cleansed by the blood of Christ. Entirely chosen. Entirely adopted. I am entirely loved.
I need to steep myself in these truths each day. I need to draw upon the grace God has lavished upon me in Christ, to ask the Lord to fill and overflow me with His Spirit. I need to be entirely surrendered to His love and to His will. Only then can I be full of grace and entirely useful to Him.
Is your “grace tank” empty today? Meditate on the Word of God. Take hold of the grace He has lavished upon you and be filled with His great love.
Have you ever run out of gas? Maybe it was in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. Maybe it was in the middle lane of the highway in the middle of rush hour traffic. Whatever the case, it’s always a wretched experience. No matter how hard you try, your car won’t budge if the tank is empty.
Sometimes, I find myself expecting too much of those around me. I find myself short-tempered and frustrated when people don’t live up to my expectations. It’s times like these when I realize my “grace tank” is empty.
When I find myself struggling to show grace to others, it’s almost inevitably because I’m not living in the grace God has shown me.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us… Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV)
How can I live out the life Christ has called me to if I’m not living in the foundational truth of His grace?
It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been walking with Jesus, I still forget, sometimes, what He has done for me. I still find myself burdened by false guilt, feeling like I’m not doing enough to make God happy.
It’s then I need to go back to God’s Word and remind myself: I am entirely washed and cleansed by the blood of Christ. Entirely chosen. Entirely adopted. I am entirely loved.
I need to steep myself in these truths each day. I need to draw upon the grace God has lavished upon me in Christ, to ask the Lord to fill and overflow me with His Spirit. I need to be entirely surrendered to His love and to His will. Only then can I be full of grace and entirely useful to Him.
Is your “grace tank” empty today? Meditate on the Word of God. Take hold of the grace He has lavished upon you and be filled with His great love.
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