Captured by Grace: Seeking and Saving Grace

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted April 22, 2017

“For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:24

The English poet Francis Thompson (1859-1907) is well-known for his 182-line poem, “The Hound of Heaven.” Such literary giants as G. K. Chesterton and J. R. R. Tolkien praised the poem for its symbolism and portrayal of God’s grace. In the poem, as a hound pursues a hare relentlessly, “so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace” (in the words of J. F. X. O’Conor, S.J.). 

Recommended Reading: Ezekiel 34:16

The image of God as the “Hound of Heaven” could be applied to all Christians on the basis of Romans 3:11b: “There is none who seeks after God.” If there is to be any “finding” of God by man, it will also be the result of God’s initiative. Christians often use the phrase in describing their salvation: “I found the Lord [at such-and-such an age].” That language is helpful in a practical sense even if incorrect theologically. We don’t find God; He finds us after seeking us “by His Divine grace.” As Jesus Himself said, He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

The simplest answer to the question, “How were you saved?” is found in the words of Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved . . . .” God seeks us and saves us by grace.

Our afflictions prepare us for receiving the grace of God. 
John Calvin

Be Positive

By Joyce Meyer - Posted April 22, 2017

We have thought of Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. 
—Psalm 48:9 

Positive minds—minds full of faith and hope—produce positive lives. Negative minds—minds full of fear and doubt—produce negative lives. In Matthew 8:13, Jesus tells us that it will be done for us as we have believed. This doesn’t mean that you and I can get anything we want by just thinking about it. God has a perfect plan for each of us, and we can’t control Him with our thoughts and words, but if we want His plan, we should think and speak in agreement with His will and plan for us. 

I encourage you to think positively about your life and be thankful for the good things God is doing and going to do. Practice staying positive in every situation that arises; even if you’re going through a difficult situation, stand in faith, believing God will bring good out of it as He has promised in His Word. 

Prayer of Thanks: Father, help me to keep my thoughts and my words focused on You. I thank You that You have good things in store for my life. I trust You today.

WHEN IT IS MORE BLESSED TO RECEIVE

By Joel Osteen – Posted April 22, 2017

Luke 10:42

…Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

If Jesus comes to your home, what would you do? Would you ask Him to sit down and then start serving Him? Or would you sit down and start drawing from Him? Would you let Him serve you and fill you up?

Jesus walked into the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. (Luke 10:38) Martha saw His weariness. She knew that Jesus had been walking for miles, going about doing good, healing the sick and meeting the people’s needs. Obviously, He must be tired, she thought, so she saw Him as someone she had to care for.

Mary, however, saw beyond Jesus’ external weariness into His divinity. She saw that He was someone she needed to draw from. And by doing that, she made Him feel like God—the Savior who had come to serve her and not to be served by her. (Matthew 20:28) Jesus even commended her for choosing the better portion!

Our human minds just find that hard to believe. Some people tell me, “But Pastor Prince, the Bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) When it comes to man, that is true. But when it comes to God, He wants to give. In fact, unless you learn how to receive from God, you will have nothing to give to man.

Which sister gave Jesus the sweeter feast and filled Him up? Martha who was busy preparing food for Him? Or Mary who sat still and drew deeply from Him? It was Mary. She made Jesus feel a sense of His divine glory. She allowed Jesus to be the giver, to be God.

Like Martha, we always reverse the roles. We somehow think that God needs our service, but He actually wants to fill us first. Mary’s ears and heart were more precious to Jesus than Martha’s hands and feet.

We use our ears and hearts to draw from Jesus. We use our hands and feet to serve Him, and there is a place for that. But our sense and appreciation of God’s divine fullness is more precious to Him than all the service we can render Him. And when you draw from Him, you cannot help but become a great giver and server.

Thought For The Day

Unless you learn how to receive from God, you will have nothing to give to man.

Let the Encouragement Flow

By Joel Osteen – Posted April 22, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up
Proverbs 12:25, NLT

TODAY'S WORD:

When you see someone who is struggling, a co-worker who is discouraged, a friend who is not up to par, how do you respond? Our words can be what keeps a person going; our compliments can put a spring back into their step. Now more than ever, we need to automatically let the encouragement flow. We need to tell others how much we love them, how we value them, and tell them that they are talented and creative. Always remember, with your words you carry life-giving water. You carry hope, healing, encouragement and new beginnings, and you can pour it out everywhere you go. 

Today, choose to speak encouragement. Choose to speak victory and faith. Instead of telling people what they’re doing wrong, instead of pointing out all their faults, find what they are doing right. Focus on the good. There are already enough critical, judgmental people in the world. Let’s be people who lift up others and restore them. Let’s be the light of Jesus in the world.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, thank You for speaking through me. Thank You for using me to be a blessing to others. Thank You for encouraging my heart as I find ways to encourage the people around me. I love You and bless Your holy Name. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.