Abundant Grace

I have lost count of how many times I have gotten discourage and/or frustrated in ministry and I have only been doing ministry vocationally for 2 years (if you count the times I have interned at Living Hope).  But when I have gotten discouraged and/or frustrated I then result to the "I can do it myself way".  That is when I say, "God I am sorry, but my way seems better so because I am not getting the results I want from you right now I am going a different direction."  

Blackaby states, "If you begin to lose heart in the work you are doing, God's grace upholds you and gives you the love for God and His people you require in order to continue."   

But when I get in that mental state of "my way is better God so back off" he lets me go that way in my ignorance.  He gives me the warning signs, but he doesn't grab me by the shoulders and say, "Bryan, hey buddy I know you are mad at me right now because you didn't get what you wanted when you wanted it.  So, I just want to tell you that I am sorry and here is what you want."  This is not how God works.  He doesn't work for the good of my ignorance, but he works for the good of those who love him and submit their lives to him.  

After a time of failure and frustrating attempts to do it my way the Holy Spirit is gracious to me through the conviction of God's Word.  God open's my eyes to my sin and allows me turn back and say "God, I screwed up.  I was only thinking about myself and my agenda and how I thought it should be done."  I then ask forgiveness for my disobedience and repent to a Holy God.  God then does something that is without measure and without comprehension.  He shows me grace. 

How is this grace abundant and amazing like Blackaby was talking about?

Because in the beginning of creation and still to this day.  God tells the Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, Stars, and Planets where to go and they do it.  But when he tells us, a little speck of dust like you and I that could be snuffed out in a blink of an eye, where to go.  We say no!   We are disobedient God hating creatures.  None of us deserve our best life now, but deserve death because we have sinned against a Holy God. 

 

But, because he hates sin so much and loves you and I so much he had his one and only Son Jesus Christ come to Earth, live a perfect and holy life, and pay the ultimate punishment. Death on a cross.  Why?  So that we may be saved from our sins?  No.  So that we may be saved from a God who is going to punish man with his wrath, because he hates the sins that man commits. He poured out his wrath on his Son Jesus Christ that was meant to be pored out on us.  He knew there was no other option. He knew we couldn't pay for our own sin.  It's like the saying, "You can't put fire out with fire, but only with water"  Our sin is "fire" and God's holiness through Christ Jesus is "water" 

To experience the "abundant Grace" Blackaby is talking about we must submit our lives to him through his Son Jesus Christ who defines "abundant Grace".  A person does this by believing that Christ is the only option for us to be spared from a Holy and just God.  Who one day is going to punish those eternally in hell who didn't submit their lives to him by believing in his Son Christ Jesus.  This is where the absolute abundant Grace comes from and the only thing you and I need in this life! 

Bryan Lewis (High School Ministry)