Weekly Thought – June 28, 2016
Fred appreciated his Father’s devotion to the Word and God’s people. During the depression out of work men would come to the back door of the parsonage asking for scraps of food or other handouts. Despite the fact my grandmother was struggling to feed the seven Smiths, Fred’s dad always found something to share – a grace gift. At this time when we celebrate our country’s freedom, let’s give thanks for our freedom in Christ.
The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute is halfway through its 2016 schedule with two more schools in the fall. Please continue to lift up team members, Asbury University, and Palm Beach Atlantic University. God is on the move and BWFLI wants to be right there!
The Real Thing
Grace was genuine, real, personal and palpable to the great saints. Brother Lawrence, Frank Laubach, Francois Fenelon – these Christian mystics never doubted they were the constant recipients of God’s amazing grace. Grace was a practical part of their everyday lives.
For example, Brother Lawrence said that when he made a mistake, he didn’t spend any time thinking about it – he just confessed it, and moved on. Before I read that, I had been trapped by guilt – immediate grace was too good to be true, I thought. Brother Lawrence’s experience released me and set me free.
Nevertheless, legalism appeals to our common sense, and reasoning. I find it necessary to remind myself that the very Scripture that makes me know my guilt lets me know God’s grace. By refusing grace, we play God and discipline ourselves. We view events as punishments. We see correction coming when in reality, it isn’t correction at all – it is just a consequence. We too often try to read into our circumstances a sense of God’s judgment.
Why? Because we feel we deserve judgment rather than grace. Grace brings freedom. If only we could accept grace fully, then we, like Brother Lawrence, could have the freedom to admit failure and move on. Since grace cannot be deserved, why should I feel others are more worthy of it than I am? Or why should I feel they are less worthy?
Thinking we can be mature in Christ apart from grace is nothing more than fooling ourselves.
The Bible tells me we should not think too highly of ourselves, but it doesn’t advocate “worm thinking” either. We are objects of grace, and grace is a faith gift coming from and through the Father of light.
This week think about: 1) How full of grace am I? 2) What does it mean to me to be free in Christ? 3) What keeps me in bondage?
Words of Wisdom: “Thinking we can be mature in Christ apart from grace is nothing more than fooling ourselves.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3: 17 NET Bible)