It's all Found IN Him

photo courtesy woodsy, rgbstock.com

In church Sunday morning during worship, certain words started skipping across my mind. Words like...

Peace

Joy

Comfort

Provision

Wisdom

Healing

Grace

Mercy

 

...all things we long for, things we pray for, but as I thought about how we ask God for these things, it occurred to me that if we are seeking God with our whole heart, there is no need to pray for these things, for they are all found in Him. When we find Him, we have all these things, so rather than seek them, seek Him. I know this is no big revelation to most of you, but for some reason, it was a light-bulb moment for me. Now I can just focus on knowing God and experiencing His presence, sitting with Him and soaking up all that is in Him. When I do that, I will lack nothing, for every good thing is found in Him. 

 

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The King has extended the scepter!

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (21st Century King James Version) - Hebrews 4:16

History tells us that if someone approached a king's throne without being summoned, one of two things could happen. The king would extend his scepter, thereby inviting the person in or he would not extend the scepter, in which case, the persons very life might be in danger.

We read about just such a case in the book of Esther.

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” - Esther 5:1-3

Esther was fortunate, in that she had earned the king's favor and was able to lay her request before the King, but she did not enter boldly with confidence.

We, on the other hand, are more fortunate, because God (our King) has invited us to approach His throne with confidence so that we might find grace and mercy. To realize what a wonderful invitation that is, we need to look at the definitions of grace and mercy.

Grace is when God gives us something we don't deserve (like forgiveness and blessings) and mercy is when He spares us from something we do deserve (like punishment for sin).

So the invitation to come to Him to find mercy and obtain grace is a wonderful invitation indeed!

As children of God, we do not have to work to earn the King's favor. That's already been done for us by Jesus Christ. We can come to God at any time and in any frame of mind. His door is always open and His ear is alway listening.

He is always ready to give us everything we need to live that abundant life He has designed for us, so enter His throne room, my friend. Enter and experience the presence of the King.

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Ah, Peace with God

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (New International Version) - Romans 5:1,2

Peace with God , can there be anything more wonderful than that? Just to know that everything between you and God is good. No sin separating, no disapproval coming from Heaven, no need to feel guilt or shame. What an awesome existence!

Top that with the fact that we did nothing to earn this blissful relationship with God. We couldn't do enough to earn it and yet, God extended His love and grace to bring us into his family - that's grace! In fact, that's the very definition of grace; unmerited, unearned favor.

Yes, God extends His grace to us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, yet not everyone reaches out to take it - to embrace all that has been done for us so that we might experience peace with God and the assured hope of eternal life spent with Him. Why? Why do those who've heard the story of God's plan of salvation reject it?

To some it seems too simple, surely we must do something to earn it - to pay for all the sin we've committed in our lives. For others, it may be a matter of pride, because in order to receive this salvation by grace we must first admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. And others trip over the faith aspect of salvation. They won't believe anything they can't see, feel, touch or understand. Their intellect gets in the way of their spirit.

Oh, what peace we forfeit when, in our stubbornness we choose to reject the grace of God.

I implore you, my unseen friend...reach out to God in faith, for He's reaching out to you with grace. Accept the amazing gift of salvation that He's provided through His Son, seek His forgiveness, surrender your life and you will never regret it, because you will experience joy and peace like you've never known before.

His hand is extended to you. Will you reach out and take it?

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)