10 September 2007 Dear Church Family, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 NKJV) Modern evangelicals are spoiled children. American evangelicals are worse. We have so much available to us, and have been given so much, that we fail to understand the magnitude and significance of God's grace, mercy and love. We sing about God's amazing grace. We spout the doctrines like telephone numbers. We know the definitions. Ask any church in the U.S. for a definition of grace. Someone will rightly say "unmerited favor." We nod our heads in agreement, and thank the Lord with a show of solemnity. But the hearts speak out. 'I deserve it'. 'I work hard'. 'I grew up with it'. 'I have the pedigree'. 'I have heard the old, old story for years'. 'It is part of who I am'. We need to read the Bible as those who first heard, and experience God's grace as those who hadn't known it. Nicodemus was shocked by Jesus' words. John's readers were shocked by his gospel account. Even those during the Reformation years were utterly astounded. I have recently read from Roland Bainton's "Here I Stand." This is a biography of Martin Luther. Luther was teaching the Bible to church-going people who had never heard the words in their language. People who only understood God as a vengeful being who, in His great grace, allowed them to breathe and support the church. When they heard about God's extravagant grace they were cut to the heart. One night while Luther was reading his translation of God's command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to his wife, Katie, she said, "I refuse to believe it. God wouldn't do that if that were His son." Luther replied, "But Katie, He did." God sacrificed His one and only Son for me. My willful sinfulness placed Him on the cross. He chose to die Himself rather than live without me. When I truly, truly understand the depths of this verse, I get a sick feeling in my stomach, my knees buckle, my heart is torn and my tears flow. I really don't deserve His grace, but He freely offers it to me. So with sincere gratitude I take His hand and allow Him to pull me from the miry clay, leaving my burdensome sin in that pit. He set my feet upon the solid rock, and I will sing a new song of His tremendous grace. Amen. Pastor Scott [Home] [Welcome] [More information] [Services] [Devotional] [Previous Devotionals] [Special Events] © Woodhaven Baptist Church 2007 Last updated: 23 September 2007 |
