By: Crystal Lyons
Romans 5:2 basically says that through Jesus, we have access by faith into this grace where in we stand. Listen to what that says. We are standing IN grace and yet we have to access it. If we’re standing in it, why do we have to access it? It’s kinda like saying that we’re standing IN water but we’ve still got to drink! Grace, like air, is all around but you have to INHALE it. We have to make a withdrawal of what is freely given.
I have to admit to my own shame, that I’ve not ever been too interested in learning about grace. To me, grace was simply God’s unearned, unmerited favor towards mankind and it is by His grace we are saved. That’s awesome…totally awesome in itself, but I looked at grace as simply forgiveness. Grace was and is God’s kindness towards us, and once received in salvation has sort of done its job. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
In reading the book, “The Calvary Road” by Roy Hession, my eyes have been opened to truths that though so simple, are incredibly powerful, truths in God’s Word that I have never seen quite like this before. I highly recommend you get this book if you don’t already have it. I’m only barely touching one area, that if applied, will make a huge difference in our relationship with God. Much more is made clear in this little book.
We are saved by grace, yes, but grace is to become a lifestyle, not a one time salvation experience. Col. 2:6 says the way we received Christ is how we are to live! How did we receive Christ? By faith in His grace! How are we to walk out this life? Faith in His grace. Gal. 2:20-3:3 is a word of correction to the Galation believers that if they came into Christ through faith in His grace, why in the world are they now trying to live out their lives by their own efforts? So, why are we?
...humility is simply agreeing with God
If the grace that’s all around us, like air, has to be accessed…how do we do that? By faith, I know, but what EXACTLY does that mean? Well, James 4:6 tells us that God resists the proud but gives GRACE to the humble. Faith is an expression of humility. Faith says, “I don’t have what it takes, but You do, Lord…I’ll trust You”. Faith says, “there’s nothing good in me…I’ll trust Your righteousness”. Pride says, “I can DO this”. Pride says, “I’m not THAT bad”. God resists the proud. Basically, if I could sum up humility in one short statement, I’d say that humility is simply agreeing with God. When the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin, to be humble would be to agree with God on the matter. Not excuse myself or soften it by calling it a “mistake”…no, agree with God on the matter…it was SIN. If I will not try to justify myself, but instead, justify God, I am agreeing with Him, and grace can then be accessed on my behalf. If I will agree with God on ANY and ALL matters, I am walking in humility. The Word of God says we can do nothing in ourselves, so agreeing with the Lord would say, “Lord, I can’t do this…I ask for grace”. That’s humility.
Paul wrote that he had learned to be
glad about his weaknesses, because as he said, “when I am weak, then I am strong”. The Lord’s strength is made perfect in weakness. It’s when I recognize my INABILITY and call upon God for GRACE that I am able to tap into heaven’s resources!
I have missed this so much in my life. When faced with a challenge I have always tried to do my best. That’s honorable among humans but it doesn’t honor God. Honoring God would be to humble myself and recognize that “my best” will never honor God. Instead of trying in my own strength, tap into His…His strength, His nature, His wisdom, His favor, etc., by calling upon His grace to be what I am not.
How many times have we took a deep breath before facing an uncomfortable situation, saying within ourselves that “we” were not going to lose our cool…just to see ourselves do the exact opposite? Why doesn’t that work? Because we are trusting in the goodness of our own nature. Agreeing with God would be to realize I don’t HAVE any goodness within my own nature! So in that situation I would need to simply call upon the nature of God to cover me….ie, GRACE. Grace is what I DON’T deserve but is freely given simply because I recognize my own neediness. The publican in Luke 17 went home justified by God, not because he
It’s when I recognize my
INABILITY and call upon God for
GRACE that I am able to tap into heaven’s resources!
How can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) The intimacy of my walk with God HINGES upon me being able to see things in the light that God see’s them. Of course that will never happen fully in this life, but isn’t that the essence of our calling in the Lord…to be aligned so completely to Him that we are literally His representatives in this world? So, instead of “trying harder”, I simply need to practice AGREEING with God about everything. He has already said, in myself I can do NOTHING, but nothing is impossible with God! So…..agree! God, I can’t be who I need to be…I need grace. Grace doesn’t just cover my sin…grace becomes whatever I lack! Can’t love a person? “Lord, I ask for grace to love”. Can’t seem to let something go? “Lord, I ask for grace to forgive”. Don’t have the physical or emotional strength for what faces you this day? “Lord, I ask for Your grace to under gird me this day. Strengthen me in Your grace”. Need wisdom? Ask for God’s grace to give you His wisdom in the matter. God gives GRACE to the HUMBLE. Only when we admit we can’t, are we a candidate for grace because God resists the proud.
....instead of “trying harder”, I simply need to practice AGREEING
with God about everything.
Think you can do it? Have at it…and you’ll go it alone… in your own strength. And like the Pharisee of old, you’ll miss
out on the fellowship you COULD be having with the Lord in this situation because your pride won’t allow you to
admit your weakness.
whatever I lack!
GRACE…..it’s become my best buddy. I am waking up every morning asking for God’s grace to give me what I need for this day. As was so wonderfully stated in the above mentioned book, the Holy Spirit only rests on the nature of a lamb. A lamb I am not! But I WANT the Holy Spirit to rest on me. So, when the Holy Spirit “checks” me…I am a little quicker to recognize it and AGREE with whatever it is He pointed out that just grieved Him. I repent, call it what it is…sin…then go on from there in confidence that I have access to WHATEVER it is I need because of His GRACE.