Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Do Not Receive the Grace of God in Vain (2 Cor. 6:1-20)

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
(2 Corinthians 6:1-10, NASB)

Paul went through so much more than most of us will ever have to experience: beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment. Yet he was able to rejoice in all things. He never wanted to take God’s grace for granted.

I have to confess: I have been guilty of “receiv[ing] the grace of God in vain.” I am so very blessed in so many ways, and yet I neglect time in God’s word. I casually throw out a prayer here or there. I take my focus off of Him and put it on things that have no eternal value.

And then God blesses me with an answered prayer, or He gives me a splash of joy through an encouraging message from a friend.

My Lord Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice in payment for my sin. God’s grace—His unmerited favor—bridged the gap that separated me from Him. He gave everything for me.

How can I do anything but give everything back to Him? How can I take His amazing grace in vain?

Lord God, I pray for a heart that focuses on You. Help me to be overwhelmingly grateful for what You’ve done for me. Let me not take Your grace for granted. Ever.

Amen.

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