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Devotional for the week – 28 September 2009 Scripture Title: Grace is a blessing, Grace that saves The doctrine of grace is central to the Methodist church. We are known to be people saved by grace. In the Methodist tradition, God’s grace is manifested in four actions - prevenient grace, justifying grace, sanctifying grace and finally a full transformation of our lives into God’s perfect image under glorifying grace. Does this all sound foreign to you? If it does, do consider joining our Baptism and Membership Class and learn what a good Methodist should know. As Christians, we believe in the creation story outlined in Genesis, that there is a Creator above us and that we are created in God’s image. The fruit of the Spirit bears testimony in us what the image of God is. God said, “Let us make man in our image after our likeness.” (Gen 1.26) God did not ask for man’s approval. It happened as God spoke. God extends His image of love towards man - this is God’s first covenant of grace. When we disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, we became sinful creatures. We fell short of that image of God by our disobedience. We also broke God’s covenant to live in His image and therefore, we deserve eternal separation from God. From the days of Adam, man has tried to justify his disobedience by blaming others. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Neither of them was remorseful or regretful. Till today, we blame God for everything including creating us. Children who rebel against their parents are implicitly saying that their parents should not have bothered giving birth to them if they have no intention of giving their children everything their children want. Do you know what the Bible has to say about rebellious children? See Exodus 21 v 17 - “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.” God is serious and He does not tolerate the dishonouring of parents. Likewise, when we disobey God our heavenly Father, God is serious that there is a price to pay and it is eternal separation, spiritual death. We are no longer pure and holy and cannot approach God as He is holy. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we have become restless in our souls and have wreaked havoc in this earth that we have been placed in. Deep within, we are desperate to return to God, to find His peace. God is merciful and He will never allow man to completely distort the divine image of His likeness. Out of His prevenient grace which means “preventing grace” or “grace that comes before”, He provides us with a saviour, Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus Christ as our living Saviour, we are reconciled to God. This is sometimes described as God’s justifying grace. Throughout our lives, we experience God’s sanctifying grace, sometimes known as sustaining grace, as God moulds us back to His image. Finally, at the moment of death, God’s glorifying grace is with us as we enter His heavenly kingdom and are fully transformed. God’s grace is a blessing given to us by God so that we can be made holy and perfect. There is a difference between the law and grace. Perhaps it can be illustrated by a recent incident. The Environment Ministry found mosquitoes larvae being bred in a flower pot. A fine will be levied as a law has been broken. This is the penalty for being careless and not emptying stagnant pools of water that have collected in flower pots. After all, a law without a penalty is just good advice. Without the penalty, laws have no effect in changing us. It only helps us to realize that we have done something wrong. If in the end, a fine is not given when it could have been levied, that is grace. Grace is sometimes described as undeserved favour. Paul understood grace intimately. Paul was a good Pharisee who did everything he could to live a faultless life as a law-abiding Pharisee. He defended his Jewish faith zealously. When God met Paul at the road to Damascus, Paul realized that the law is not a way of salvation. The law can only convict man that we are sinners. In breaking the law, we have to face the penalty. Paul persecuted God’s people. He supported the stoning of Stephen for preaching the gospel. Paul deserved death for what he had done but God extended His grace towards Paul. Paul wrote in verse 14 that he was filled with faith and love that he had never felt before - “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” Paul called himself the "chief" or "worst" of all sinners in verse 16. Paul became so shameful of his deeds when he had that close encounter with Christ. There is a strong lesson for us here. When we look deep within ourselves, we will realize that we are in much need of God’s grace! In verse 16, we learn that God’s plan is to save sinners. If God was patient and gracious enough to save Paul, God will be patient and gracious enough to save anyone. Paul serves as a model of God’s grace. The ultimate sinner can became the ultimate saint. He moved from a persecutor of the faith to a defender of the faith. Paul died defending the Christian faith. Such is the power of the transforming grace of God. It is ironic but many times, people who serve the church actively find it difficult to accept or need God’s grace. Somehow, they forget to express grace towards others and to work out their salvation towards perfection in their lives. Remind yourself always that it is only through God’s grace that you have a means of salvation and because of God’s grace; you have nothing to boast about in terms of your own achievements. So let us express God’s grace towards others in the church, at home and in our offices through our lives and in our conservations. To conclude, it is easy to differentiate a Christian who is living under grace from those who are not. A person who lives under grace is always thankful and cheerful. Some people even notice that these people look younger! They never gossip but instead speak words of blessings and encouragement. They do not demand but often give and forgive. When you encounter the grace of God, you will realize how much God loves you and in turn, will love others. Soon, you will find yourself echoing Paul’s words in verse 17 - “Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; He alone is God. Amen and Amen.” Prayer Response Dear God, thank you for reminding me that I am saved by your grace. Please forgive me for being prideful in my accomplishments. Help me to look at others in the same loving way as you have looked on me. Show me who I can extend a helping hand to or to speak an encouraging word to this week. Amen Devotional based on a sermon by Rev Fred Tan
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