Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

What a Grace – Continued

Unless you are aware of the reality of God, it truly is a waste of time to attend church. Jesus stated this in His Word, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Did you understand that is the reality of God? He is Spirit and He is Truth. You are not going to see Him with your natural eyes.

People join churches for many reasons but not enough of them truly experience the reality of God. Ask yourself, if you are aware of the reality of God at work in your own life. How aware are you of God’s reality in your own heart? What is God doing to expand your thinking? What is God doing to stretch your patience and your toleration? What is God doing to make you more compassionate and more merciful? What about the reality of God in your life? If you are aware of the reality of God in your heart, can you then move from reality to respect for God? When we respect God we believe His Word, and we try to obey His Word. When you respect God you try to please Him. Paul wrote, “For God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). To be cheerful in your giving, means to do so without hesitation and with a heart of joy. Now there is both the reality of God and the Christian respect for God, but there is also the right relationship with God.

In Psalm 51:10 we’re taught to pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast [right, loyal and grounded] spirit within me.” A steadfast/right spirit has healing in it. A steadfast/right spirit is a loving spirit. A steadfast/right spirit is a merciful spirit. A steadfast/right spirit does not rejoice when a sister or brother has a bad time, or when a brother or sister makes a mistake. That’s the Word of God, not my words. If you were to have a problem with me, that’s not especially important. I can’t save you, my personal words outside of the Word of God can’t save you, but do you have a problem with what God said? God said “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). You can’t give any mercy. You may be traveling high and mighty, but your day is going to come.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (NLT). We can’t be loyal to one another if we haven’t been loyal to God, no matter how hard we try. I don’t know how to make it any more plain. Our awareness of God’s reality and who He is, our respect for God, our right relationship with God will teach us first to give ourselves to the Lord. Give yourself to Jesus. You don’t have much time. I said give yourself. We give ourselves to an office in the church. We give ourselves to a position in the church. We give ourselves to the membership in the church, but we are not going to be judged by any of that. Give yourself to God. Surrender your will, your self to Him. Sacrifice your all to Him. Share your gift for God’s purpose and God’s program.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Where noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation®, NLT © 2015 by Tyndale House.
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