A Community of Grace »

The sun in its brilliance, shining stars, and majestic mountain peaks are spectacular and constant reminders of God’s glory. Everything in the universe has been created to reflect the abundant goodness and breathtaking beauty of our Creator. Whether singing birds, budding flowers, or human friendship, all attest to a loving and wondrous God.

Made in God’s image, the reflection of His glory was dimmed in Adam and Eve when they chose to believe a lie. The result of acting upon that lie was sin. Sin’s fallout is pain, sickness, suffering, selfishness, heartache, broken relationships and death. Our brokenness diminishes our ability to reflect the glory of God. Until Christ returns, this world is under the temporary dominion of Satan, the father of lies. However, despite the bleakness of this reality, the light and life of Jesus Christ reign presently upon the earth through His followers.

How is the kingdom of God’s light and love manifested through Christ-followers? The Holy Spirit came and indwelt us when we first believed the promise of Christ to save us. The Spirit is supplied in fuller measure, working holiness in us as we believe and obey Christ’s words.

The problem for most of us is that we do not open ourselves up to the mighty keeping power of God’s Spirit. When the winds of adversity blow upon us, we fail to believe God’s promises. We are not acquainted with His Words. Unbelief causes us to collapse in defeat. As a consequence, God’s glory is dimmed in us.

Jesus is called Faithful and True, the Word of God. As you draw near and believe His love for you, you will believe His Words. His love will strengthen you to walk according to truth, no matter how hard the storms of suffering beat against you.

No problem is too hard for God as you seek His wisdom and trust in His goodness. Will you shift your focus from your troubles back to God? Let His glory shine forth from you, whether you are walking in the brightness of noonday sun or the dark night of your soul.

“God… Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the non-existent things that He has promised as if they already existed.”

Romans 4:17

A team of executives hosted a meeting for young women rescued from the sex trade industry. The women were part of a program to prepare and place them in a corporate internship. Arriving at the high-rise office building, they were welcomed into a beautifully appointed conference room. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined two walls, overlooking the very streets where many of them had been victims of heinous crimes.

Their rescue is much like our own:

“At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).

Because we believed in and received Jesus as our Savior:

“…our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).

With a love far beyond our comprehension, God sacrificed His Son to rescue us from the grip of Satan. He freed us from the power of sin, and, in Christ, gave us everything we need to live in complete freedom through victory over sin. Choosing to live in sin and forfeit our God-given freedom is as ludicrous and damaging as a woman who, when offered an escape, chooses to remain in the sex trade. Yet we can be deceived. Sin becomes familiar and comfortable. Ceasing to sin can seem more difficult than continuing to live with its effects. At times, victory over sin feels impossible, a dream we will never realize.

Yet freedom from sin is our inheritance in Christ. We receive and walk in victory just as we were saved: by faith, through grace. We admit we have a sin problem and need a Deliverer. We believe that Jesus can and will deliver us. We then meditate on and obey God’s Word, for God has promised that through His truth He will set us free. These steps will root, build up and strengthen us so the lies of Satan lose their deceptive allure. The power of sin will no longer feel unconquerable.

In what ways are you living as if still a slave to sin? Talk to God about them. Let Him show you how, by faith, you can receive His grace. He will rescue you. He will set you free.

Across the globe, there are few people who have difficulty recognizing someone who is considered beautiful. Beauty is highly revered, often sought after and frequently considered a personal virtue. Subjective perceptions of personal beauty are often a misplaced source of significance and acceptance. As a result, billions of dollars are spent each year in ceaseless quests to become or remain beautiful. Definitions of beauty are elusive, varying from culture to culture.

Our Creator has placed a longing for beauty in our hearts. His Word reveals one authoritative standard for true beauty. It is not found at expensive makeup counters. It has nothing to do with one’s physical traits. Real beauty is sourced in holy character, found only in Jesus Christ.

In the Song of Solomon, Jesus is likened to a “rose of Sharon,” outstanding in His beauty. At first glance, this seems to be a contradiction when compared to Isaiah’s description in Isaiah 53:2: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Christ’s beauty was veiled in plain human flesh, cloaked in humility. Yet, His cheeks were likened to beds of spices, yielding sweet perfume, speaking of costly sacrifice. Faith in His shed blood on the cross achieves the ultimate beauty makeover, cleansing us from sin. As we humbly submit to the daily washing by His Word, He beautifies and adorns us with continual salvation from sin, reviving His Spirit in us.

Jesus’ lips are likened to lilies dripping with sweet-scented and costly myrrh: holy words that speak love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and goodness. His words implanted in your heart and spoken from your lips impart the dazzling beauty of holiness.

Jesus invites you to freely access His supernatural beauty supplies. Receive His Words that cleanse and restore your soul with His purity and holiness. He will give you the ultimate face-lift as you lift your face to Him. Your transformed character will radiate with the resplendent glory of Jesus Christ.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy.”

Psalm 103: 2, 4