Grace for the Race

When all is said and done in your life, what would you like to have said about all that you have done? In other words, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? Here is one recounting I am sure would not be on your list:

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. (2 Chronicles 21:20)

What a terrible testimony that is! Jehoram passed away . . . to no one’s regret! Why? Because he did not follow the Lord when he became king. Instead, Jehoram followed the example of the wicked kings of Israel and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He built pagan shrines and led the people of God into the worship of pagan gods. In essence, he was more focused on building his pathetic kingdom of one, rather than building the magnificent Kingdom of the One. And therein lies the truth of Jehoram’s terrible testimony: no one was sorry when he died because Jehoram had shrunk the size of his life down to the size of his life.

But this is not for you! Every Christian is called and equipped to leave a lasting legacy under the lordship of Jesus Christ. We simply need to keep the main thing the main thing . . . and that main thing is Jesus Christ. We are to live for the glory of our King; and as much as it is within our power, we should be doing whatever is true, noble, right, and pure in the sight of the Lord (Philippians 4:8).

Will our lives be marked by failing and falling short along the way? Of course; but that’s not the point! The point is to keep pressing on toward our Prince with a heart that beats after the things of God. When we do that, we will glorify God and do good to others—all others. And when we live in this way, it will never be said of us that we passed away . . . to no one’s regret!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

Only two letters in this small word “my,” but it carries a message of the greatest importance when it is connected with this tremendous encouragement from the Book of Job:

I know that MY Redeemer lives. (Job 19:25)

If you’re familiar with the story of Job, you will remember the incredible, almost unimaginable, loss he suffered. He lost his wealth. He lost his health. He lost his ten children. He even lost the support of his wife, who was so devastated that she urged her husband to “Curse God and die!”

Yet, through it all, that little two-letter word—MY—gave Job the strength he needed in the midst of his crucible of crisis. Here was a man who didn’t need a theological proposition as he journeyed through a season of suffering; he needed a Redeemer, and he needed to know that the Redeemer was his.

To know that a Redeemer lives is a good thing. To know that MY Redeemer lives is the ultimate thing. Job could endure what he was going through because he knew his Redeemer lived. This was a truth that empowered, encouraged, and equipped Job to rise out of the ashes of desperation, doubt, and defeat.

So . . . do you know this truth today? Can you put the word “my” in front of Redeemer? If this is true for you, then you have been given everything you need to weather any storm that comes your way.

Remember that whatever you are going through right now, you are going through it. Jesus told His disciples to get into a boat and that they would go to the other side of the lake. But they forgot that truth when the storm winds began to blow; they thought they were going to sink and cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:35-40). All they needed to remember was the fact that Jesus had said they were going to the other side of the lake, which meant that not even the most violent storm could keep them from their destination.

This is a truth to be trusted by everyone who can say along with Job, “I know that MY Redeemer lives.” Jesus is MY . . . MY . . . MY Redeemer; and if you have placed your trust in Christ’s atoning death on the cross to fully and freely pay the penalty for your sins, then He is YOUR Redeemer too!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

“No pain, no gain” is an old exercise motto I often used to hear (and use) throughout my youth and years of coaching. It is a saying that promises increased performance as a reward for hard, pain-producing effort.

What is true in athletics is also true in the life of the Christian. We have been promised pain (trial, trouble, tribulation), but on the other side of that pain is great and eternal gain.

The Promise of Pain –

It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:29)

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)

Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble,” but He did not stop there. He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He was telling us that the Christian is to expect pain and endure it on this side of the grave.

The Purpose in Pain –

Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

As I like to say, “No cross . . . no glory!” We have been promised a cross to bear in the name of our Lord; on the other side of it is great gain. We share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.

What a wonderful purpose in our pain! Keeping both the promise of pain and the purpose in pain in view, we can walk by faith and not by sight, knowing that along the way to our Celestial City, the pain we endure for the cause of the Kingdom will return to us glorious gain.

NO PAIN . . . NO GAIN!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

The Bible speaks often about joy and how it is to be the mark of the Christian. So the question we must ask and answer is, “Am I marked by joy?”

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Be joyful always. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

The Bible makes it crystal clear that joy is the mark of the child of God. In fact, a joyless Christian is an OXYMORON. Now the reason we say that joy is an “inside job” is simply because it is not based on the circumstances of life. It is based on our right relationship to God. Here is a powerful example of this truth from the Old Testament.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18

What we need to keep in view here is in an agricultural economy, this is what we could call a complete disaster. Yet in the middle of this mess, the prophet kept his eyes on God and did not let his circumstance rob him of his joy. Let’s take a look at another powerful example of this truth from the New Testament.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

James is making it perfectly clear that there is purpose in our pain and that purpose is to grow us up into Christ. Clearly Christian joy is an “inside job” unrelated to what is going on around us because of Who we have within us…The Holy Spirit. Here is the best definition I have ever seen of joy.

J           =          JESUS

O         =          OTHERS

Y         =          YOU

You see, the Gospel changes the orientation of our hearts. Vertically it orients us toward God and horizontally it orients us toward others. When we are working from this kind of “other-orientation” the joy of the Lord which is our strength flows both to us and through us.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.  (Psalm 84:7)

That seems like a strange statement in sacred Scripture, doesn’t it? We know from both history and personal experience that we all go from whatever strength we have to weakness . . .  and ultimately to death.

The comfort in Psalm 84:7 is not found in our physical strength, but rather in our spiritual strength. In our pilgrimage toward the Celestial City, we actually find ourselves going from weakness to weakness physically. All the valleys, deserts, and wilderness experiences we encounter in this lifetime take their physical toll on us over the years, until one day we pass through the valley of the shadow.

But through every physical challenge we face on this side of heaven, we are strengthened by sipping from the wells of our salvation that God has set before us. You see, we have been promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), so as we weaken in our physical nature we are strengthened in our spiritual nature, which is being perfected as we progress toward our promised land.

Going from strength to strength is simply a matter of growing in God’s grace. We know where we are ultimately going and we know we have been given everything we need to get there. We also know that we don’t go alone . . . and that, beloved, is a source of increasing strength in the lives of the saints of God.

We can go from strength to strength because we know that He who began a good work in us will carry that work on to completion (Philippians 1:6). Nothing—not even our own failures or faithlessness—can stop God from finishing what He started in us and that truth allows us to tap into the streams of strength that flow from our Savior. One day soon, we shall all appear before God in the heavenly Zion. And on that day, we will fully realize the truth that we did indeed go from strength to strength on our way to spending eternity with our Savior.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Did you know that faith leaves footprints? So do doubt and fear. The difference is found in the one making the footprint. The footprints of doubt and fear are the ones we make; the footprints of faith are made by the Faithful One . . . and these are the ones that we are to walk in.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

You see, it’s the difference between walking by sight (focusing on the natural) and walking by faith (focusing on the supernatural). The Bible is full of both examples. Let’s take a look at both extremes in one passage:

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. (Matthew 14:25-32)

When you think about it, it was really no big deal for Jesus to be walking on water. He is the One who created the water and who sustains all things by His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3). But for Peter to do it was another thing altogether. For Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water required that he walk by faith and not by sight. He needed to trust in Jesus and not himself. And this biblical account tells us that is exactly what happened . . . at least at first.

But Peter turned his focus away from Jesus and locked on to his circumstances—the winds and the waves. He began to sink as soon as he started walking by sight. What a wonderful example we have of the difference between walking by faith and by sight!

The footprints of faith are only found when we are walking in Christ’s footprints. In the natural, Peter could never have walked on the top of the water. But when he trusted totally in Jesus, he was able to rise above the natural and walk in the supernatural.

So . . . where in your life do you need to shift your focus away from your circumstances—the winds and waves of challenge—and put them back on Christ? What boat of unbelief do you need to step out of today so that you can walk in the footprints of your faithful Savior? Take that step by faith, and take it now. You’ll be glad you did.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

In order to understand what the Bible means when it tells us we are “more than conquerors,” we must first understand what a conqueror is. Here is the basic definition:

• To overcome or surmount by physical, mental, or moral force
• To gain or secure control of by or as if by force of arms
• To be victorious, a winner

So . . . what does it mean to be more than a conqueror? Let’s take a look at the phrase in its context and see if we can find a deeper meaning.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

To be more than a conqueror is to be in Christ. Those who know not the Christ know nothing of this biblical truth. To be sure, they can be conquerors (as even a cursory reading of history will attest) and overcome by physical, mental, or moral force. But they cannot be more than a conqueror without Christ.

For the Christian, being more than a conqueror is their mark in this life. Regardless of the problems or obstacles they face, Christians can know that they can and already have overcome through Christ. Christians live confidently in Christ, knowing that regardless of what obstacle or enemy we face on this side of the grave, we are eternally loved and secure and can never be separated from “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You see, when this truth of being more than a conqueror rules our hearts, it shapes our lives. It’s not that we won’t have to face storms and sorrows; we will! But even in the midst of these trials, we know we will get through them all because of the One who loves us and laid His life down for us. So regardless of what you are going through, remember that Jesus is with you every step of the way and will bring you safely through to the other side.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Today’s message from the letter to the Hebrews offers a word of comfort for anyone who has been dealing with a bit of “holy heat” in any area of life.

You have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)

In the very same way, Peter encourages us:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV)

Far too often Christians perceive adversity from the Almighty as a sign of His displeasure, not His loving, fatherly discipline. Whatever “fire” you might be facing today, know this: God loves you and is using that trial to conform you into the image and likeness of His beloved Son. God is forging us in the fire of affliction, and He will not stop short of finishing what He started. Yes, as Paul said, we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Notice that in the Hebrews passage above that there are two opposite odious responses to the Almighty’s fiery furnace of affliction. The first is to “make light of it.” At first glance that idea might seem a bit strange; who in their right mind makes light of affliction? Well, we can do this in two ways:

1. We miss seeing God’s hand in every storm we are facing.

2. We miss seeing the value in every storm, because we think of them as something simply to be endured.

Scripture tells us that nothing happens in our lives that does not first pass through our Lord’s nail-scarred-hands. There is no such thing as “karma” and there is no “bad luck.” There is no such thing as “luck,” period! “For from him and through him and to him are all things,” Scripture assures. “To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36). We are most definitely not, as Tom Hanks said in Forrest Gump, “floating around accidental-like on a breeze.” Jesus told us that not a bird falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father (Matthew 10:29). Therefore, even in the midst of the most fiery trials, we can and must trust our Master’s assurance that it is all working toward our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).

The second odious response to being forged in the fire of Omnipotence is to “lose heart.” We lose heart when we believe that God is disciplining us out of punitive anger rather than profound love. And the difference between these two motives makes all the difference in the world! If God was simply exacting His “pound of flesh” from you, all you would want to do is simply endure the storm and try to get through it as quickly as possible. But if you understand that your storm has been delivered to you from a God who loved you enough to die for you, then you won’t shrink back from the storm. Rather, you will be strengthened by it . . . which is exactly God’s purpose in sending it!

Remember, every pain has a divine purpose, which ultimately leads to the completion of what God started in you: conformity to the likeness of Christ!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

I have learned a sound biblical truth over the years: God will only give to you what He will give through you! In other words, we are to be conduits of God’s grace; we are to be “divine distribution centers” for His many blessings.

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2)

Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. Abraham was chosen to be one of God’s divine distribution centers, and what was true of Abraham is true of every child of God. What we have been given from the hand of God is given to flow through us to bless the lives of all those with whom we come in contact.

So . . . would those around you describe you as a conduit of God’s grace? Funny thing about being one of God’s divine distribution centers: the more that flows through us, the more that flows to us. In God’s economy, the more we pour into the lives of others, the more God pours into our lives.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38)

When we keep in view all that God has given us in Christ, we find great joy and freedom in being divine distribution centers! The true mark of the society of saints is service to others—all others.

When we realize that the correct answer to Paul’s rhetorical question in 1 Corinthians 4:7—“What do you have that you did not receive?”—is “Nothing,” we shift from being consumers to being contributors. When we understand that the greatest return in giving is the giving itself, we hold nothing back that is in the storage room of our divine distribution centers. Everything will be moved out into circulation for the good of others and the glory of God.

Oh . . . “the good of others” includes you too! God wanted me to tell you that.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Most of you know that on “Good Friday” Christians remember the day a little more than two thousand years ago when the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died an unimaginable death on a wooden cross. Why in the world would we call it “good”? Why not “black” Friday or “bad” Friday?

We call this day Good Friday simply because it was the first of a three-day weekend that initiated the most unimaginable “good” the world has ever seen—good that was accomplished by the death and burial of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for all of our sins . . . and then His glorious resurrection!

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

You see, that Friday was so good simply because we are so bad! The good news is nowhere near as good without unless we understand the bad news. The bad news is that we were dead in our sins and trespasses. We were on the run from God. We had no interest in things above because we were consumed with all things here below. We hated what was good in the eyes of God and clung tightly to what was evil. We did what was right in our own eyes. We were enslaved sinners in desperate need of a Savior who could free us from the reign of sin and death.

And how do we know these truths? Through the Law of God!

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” (Romans 7:7)

The Law made it clear that we were in bondage. The apostle Paul admitted that he would not have known what sin was apart from the law. And once we understand the Law, we quickly realize that we cannot keep it, no matter how hard we try. The Law crushes our conscience and drives us to the cross.

But at the cross of Christ we encounter the good news of the Gospel of God’s grace—we receive His rescue for our ruin. God poured out His wrath and judgment on His precious, sinless Son, who took our place as our Substitute. On that first Good Friday, God demonstrated that he was both “just and the justifier” of all those for whom Christ died. What looked at the moment like a victory for the devil was actually his crushing defeat.

On Easter morning, God gave His stamp of approval on the cross work of Christ. When Jesus was raised from the dead and walked out of that tomb, He became the death of death. His resurrection on that glorious day points to the resurrection of all who have trusted in His saving work.

This weekend—and every other day of our lives—let us keep all the “good” of Good Friday in constant view.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!