Conduct Of Grace

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Matthew 7:7-8

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:  Exodus 4-6 Matthew 14:22-36

Conduct of Grace

The world has come so far from God's word that they have to construct their own wordly codes for conduct-they have no foundation in God's word.

God knows the wickedness in the heart of the human and that is why there are around 50 'one-another commands' in the New Testament. God knows that while we learn to love one another that our actions will show it and so He gives us the rules of action or as the armed services say-'rules of engagement'.

One of the most important to all of us is this:

32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

'Tenderhearted-forgiveness' is the forgiving grace of Christ. The question has been asked, "If the Holy Spirit is inside us, why do we need to read it in scripture?"

Answer: "...because the 'old sin nature' still lives in us-this has to be dealt with as Jesus taught us in Luke 9:23-"...take up your cross daily..."

In Ephesians 4:32, God tells us to forgive as Jesus forgives-use the mind of Christ(1 Corinthians 2:16)-the holy Spirit is right here all the time and if we listen, we hear His urging us to 'let your gentleness be evident to all'(Philippians 4:5)-be kind and tenderhearted-the way Jesus was and still is.

Why is this so important?

Colossians 3:13 says "...so you also must forgive." It is not an option-it is a command from God-we must forgive(Matthew 6:15)

The Lord knows any harsh feelings we may have and knows how hard they may be for some of us to flush away-but they must be-flushed- and He holds that power-and when we ask, He will do it-we have to let go of the grip of self control and let God have our harsh feelings and then the tenderness of Christ can control us.

This may seem elementary to many-and it is-it is our elemental sin that keeps us from progressing the way we must. The smallest of compromises to God's commands is sin. If the current church would learn this tiny principle, it could begin to thrive-to operate above the  ego driven 'my way' choices.

Love one another-forgive one another-have tender hearts for one another-Christ in you-your hope of Glory.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is tenderness and kindness above measure. Your kingdom come and my obedience grow. Give me Your bread today for my growth. Forgive me my stubborn choices for ego sake. Lead me away from selfishness.

Great and mighty God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen