Laced With Grace

This summer I have taken up running. Well “running” may be a loose definition of what I do; I would rather call it run-gasp-for-air-walk then repeat. Whatever it is called,  it has taught me a lot about myself and possibly my Christian walk.

When I start out in the morning I begin strong, I am determined to run the farthest today but after some time my body begins to become weary and I find myself trying to suck air into my lungs anyway I can, then finally I slow down to a walk.

Here are things I observed:

1. When it is cool enough outside and no one else is out exercising I find it a time of renewal and strength. I like the easy road.

2. When there are people out, more than let’s say two, I become cranky wondering why they are out exercising at the same time and on MY road no less. They get in my way.

3. But on the other hand, when I am at the point of gasping for air, ready to quit, I walk past someone and they keep me going. I do not want to be seen as a quitter. Or “gasp” a person impersonating a runner.

When we are on our journey as a Christian many times we start out strong, determined to become the best Christian God has ever had. The road begins smooth, there is a cool breeze in life….ahh life is good. While we are “on fire for God” and blazing the Christian road, God brings people on the same road we are traveling. Often times we just run right past them, because “hey I am doing important things for God today, get out of my way!” Finally after all that running and the lack of refreshment from God, we are left gasping for air. But suddenly at just the right moment God places another person on your path and it spurs you to not give up, to push forward that extra few minutes until you have completed your run for the day.

Our walk with God is a journey, he does want us to be excited to follow him, but too often we burn out and end up quitting. We stop our daily devotions or we are left standing in a room gasping for air wondering where God went. I have been there.

There is good news:

[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
[29] He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
(Isaiah 40:28-29 ESV)

God never becomes weary, God gives power to those who feel like quitting, and not only does he give you power but he increases your strength. We all like to run our Christian walk on easy street—a street with no obstacles and a cool breeze—but it is not until we are left gasping for air that we find God’s power and renewed strength. Once we have run the road of difficulty we find HE IS FAITHFUL and God never meant for us to run it alone!

Heavenly Father please give refreshment to whoever read this today.  Amen

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[15] For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, [16] I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
(Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV)

When the verse above was originally written it was written as a single sentence in the original Greek language.

This is one of my favorite passages because when I am without words to pray. If someone is going through a tough time or a time of confusion, I always turn this passage into a prayer.

As Christians we are responsible to pray for others:

1. Pray for their future hope.
2. Pray for God’s inheritance in other Christians. This means God’s inheritance of all the Christians that will spend eternity with Him.
3. Pray they realize and utilize the power they have in Christ.

It is easy as Christians to forget all we have access to: “immeasurable greatness”, “great might” and God “working” in us.

Just as Ephesians 6 explains when, how, and for whom to pray for. This first chapter in Ephesians reminds us that we need to encourage and remind other Christians they have a great God working through them.

As Christians we all need encouragement, it is a daily struggle to stay on the right path, so if you fail to find the right words use Paul’s words to the Ephesians.

Heavenly Father:

For this reason, because I have heard of these women’s faith in the Lord Jesus and their love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for each one of them, remembering them in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give each one a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of their hearts enlightened, that they may know what is the hope to which he has called each one of you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Amen

Have you ever believed in something strongly only to find out later on you were wrong? Have you ever supported a leader, an authority figure only to find you were following the wrong person or that leader lead you astray?

Christ has returned to his Father and Peter is now beginning his ministry. His first sermon from a series of sermons in Acts was at the feast of Pentecost. During the feast of Pentecost the promise of the Holy Spirit descends on believers and Jew in the crowd are in awe and confused concerning what is happening with the spirit-filled Christians.  This power filling the new Christians marks the beginning of the new covenant.

Witnessing this are the Jews who are guilty of Christ’s death. We are all guilty of Christ’s death but during this time Peter is reaching out to the Jews showing them proof of fulfilled prophesy. He calls them to repent and be baptized.

It is hard for us to image what was going through these Jews mind at this time; everything they have believed and supported is now being called a lie. First they witnessed the Christians filled with power during Pentecost (Acts 2). Now they see Peter heal a lame man (Acts 3). During Peter’s second sermon after the healing of this man, he is calling Jews to repent and be baptized.

Peter tells the Jewish people that they were responsible for Jesus’ capture and consequent death, and that they needed to repent. In Acts 3:17 he tells them they acted in ignorance and so did their leaders. Peter understands they did not realize fully that Christ was the Messiah, but that does not excuse them from their guilt.

I ask you again, have you ever followed a belief or a leader only to learn they were wrong? How do you react when someone tells you what you believe is wrong? Our human nature is to become defensive; to prove why we are right. Instead Peter tells them God understands, no matter what they have done; in fact God gives them three promises for those who will believe.

1. The forgiveness of all their sins. God will wipe away all sin; all misunderstanding.
2. A time for refreshment. This is a time where the Holy Spirit will dwell within a new believer and offer them comfort and renewal.
3. That Christ will come again for the believers.

What God would reach out to the very ones guilty of his death (all of us) and tell them if they will believe He forgives them and wipes all sin away? Not only does he forgive them but he enters into a new covenant with them.

Maybe you have believed your sin is to great, maybe a leader has mislead you, and you are now wondering if this applies to you. YES IT DOES.

The same God who sacrificed his own son for you is the same God who says just come. No matter what you have done, just come and I will forgive you, I refresh your weary soul and I will come again just for you.