Tag Archive - grace

Jesus, His Name is Salvation

January 7, 2012 • 1 Comment

Matthew 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

The name of Jesus is important. Yeshua means “salvation”. “He will save his people from their sins.”

What does it mean to save people from their sins? What does that plan look like? What did Mary think when the angel told her, “He will save his people from their sins”?

And, why did the angel call us “his people”?

Because, we belong to Christ. We are his treasured possession. We are his.

2012 Journey of Grace

January 1, 2012 • 0 Comments

GraceThis blog was setup to chronicle various aspects of my journey with God. As long I’m alive, I will always need my Father’s help. I simply want to share my journey with others so that we can all grow together.

For the past year, I’ve been learning so much about grace. I don’t think we truly grasp all that Christ has done for us. When he said on the cross, “It is finished,” he meant it. It was finished. But, what does that mean? What is the finished work of Christ?

Starting in 2012, I’m going to dig through the New Testament specifically through the lens of grace and share my thoughts. My hope is to post something as I read each chapter. I will not do an exhaustive breakdown study of each verse or even an in depth study of the chapter. My goal is simply to read through the New Testament and document what stands out to me. I also plan to make notes of what is typically taught in most churches regarding grace.

I hope you enjoy this journey with me. And please comment or share your thoughts as we move through the New Testament.

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Let’s get started in Matthew

Does God really love me and accept me?

March 3, 2009 • 0 Comments

This question is so key to our walk with God. I believe it’s a question we ask ourselves constantly. But, it’s not a question we ask out loud or even think about directly. Rather, it’s a question that looms deep in our soul, deep in those sub-conscious regions of our mind. It’s the filter in which we perceive God.

Yesterday, I was having an interesting dialogue with my Father. And, it started with a question. While the question may sound condemning at first, it was not at all. But, it was very engaging.

    Son, why do you hold back and choose not to spend time with me in the morning?

    I guess many times I feel like you don’t have anything new to say to me. Or, I don’t trust that I’m hearing you or obeying you.

    I know you love me. I know that. I guess I just don’t feel worthy, because I make so many mistakes.

    Son, do you really think your performance, your ability to be good enough counts for anything?

    It’s got to count for something. The whole law of sowing and reaping.

    Son, there is nothing you can do that can sway my love for you. The reason I don’t like sin is that, in your mind, you think it pushes me away. Guilt, shame, condemnation—those never come from me, son. Never.

    I see you perfect. I see you as Christ.

I realized yesterday morning that I am way too hard on myself. I try to determine God’s feelings towards based on my feelings towards myself. If I’m mad at myself, then surely God is mad at me. But, he’s not.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, 9).

In the mornings, when I start to feel condemned for making mistakes or discouraged for failing in some area of my life, I immediately think of Lamentations 3:23,

“The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day” (Lamentations 3:22, 23).

His mercies begin afresh each day, each morning. His love is unfailing. It never ends. His mercy keeps us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness. Great!

I can’t even begin to describe what this means to me spiritually. His mercy is new every morning. Every morning, I am given the opportunity to succeed. Even if I fail the day before, his mercy is new every morning.

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