{"id":16979,"date":"2021-12-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/?p=16979"},"modified":"2021-12-09T20:19:32","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T20:19:32","slug":"faith-devotionals-growth-by-grace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/2021\/12\/faith-devotionals-growth-by-grace\/","title":{"rendered":"Growth by Grace"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2018Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God\u2019s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.\u2019 (vv6\u20137) Ephesians 5:3\u201313<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible sets high standards (vv3\u20134). I\u2019ve spoken empty words far too often. Knowing where my mind has taken me, and where I\u2019ve let myself down under peer pressure and personal preference, it is grace alone on which I remain totally dependent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is impossible to live the Christian life by force of will. To do so is to draw on my own strength, the very opposite of what Jesus instructs us to do in trusting Him (Mark 5:36). Christianity is not an outward mask, but an inner conviction. Yes, it can and will produce changes<\/a>, but it also invites us to become aware of our corruption (1 Cor. 15:42\u201344).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanctification is a painful process. As I draw nearer to God, I become increasingly aware of my mortal corruption. With the best will in the world, I cannot please God but can accept His generous gift of grace<\/a>, acceptance and salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I choose the degree to which I want to develop that friendship with God<\/a>. In the myriad opportunities that life affords, where will I invest my time and energy? I only began heavily investing in God from my mid-forties. Up to then, although a Christian in ministry, I played far too fast and loose with God\u2019s kindness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I am conscious of how \u2018the things of earth\u2019 grow \u2018strangely dim in the light of [God\u2019s] glory and grace\u2019. A song I sang so often as a young Christian is now my heart\u2019s deep desire, and my life\u2019s refrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER:<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Gen. 50:15\u201326; Ezek. 36:33\u201338; Matt. 10:26\u201333; Eph. 4:1\u201316.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AN ACTION TO TAKE: <\/span><\/em><\/strong>When we fail, it\u2019s an opportunity to return to God\u2019s grace to request and receive God\u2019s forgiveness. Do you want to live by and grow in God\u2019s grace?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A PRAYER TO MAKE:<\/span><\/em><\/strong> \u2018Lord, when I\u2019m weary and troubled and can see no light in the darkness, may I embrace Your grace. Amen.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by hmauck on Pixabay<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2018Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God\u2019s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.\u2019 (vv6\u20137) Ephesians 5:3\u201313 The Bible sets high standards (vv3\u20134). I\u2019ve spoken empty words far too often. Knowing where my mind has taken me, and where I\u2019ve let myself […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":16987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16979"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16979"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17021,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16979\/revisions\/17021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.barnabastoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}