TRADING FLAWS FOR GRACE.

Trading Flaws for Grace

I don’t like myself when I mess up but I am reminded God’s grace is there for me and I can do better with His help. I want to do better.

I am flawed. Every day I miss the mark. Every day I lose patience and say things the wrong way which means I should not have said them at all.

I keep messing up. Last week I forgot to pray for someone I assured I would remember their prayer request. I saw her at church and the stress of her situation was written across her face and I was reminded that I need to pray. I was also reminded of my negligence.

I stand in the line at the grocery store and chit chat with the cashier or another person in line with me and forget to share the Lord in some way when God opens the door and gives me a moment to open my mouth and be a light in a dark world. When I get in my car and pull out of the parking lot I shake my head disappointed in myself because I let that moment slip out of my hands.

I have negative and critical thoughts about someone and then I am filled with guilt. I should know better. I do know better, and yet…there were those negative and critical thoughts exploding in my mind.

The list is endless.

There is bad news and there is good news.

Bad news: I have flaws and I mess up—consistently. I am not perfect. Not even close. Sometimes I am just a big mess.

Good news: I am a sinner saved by grace. Then the good news gets even better. There is someone who is perfect. Jesus is the perfect one. He perfectly loves me every day. He loves me although I am flawed and when I miss the mark. I am desperate for this kind of love and He offers it to me freely every day.

I don’t like myself when I mess up but I am reminded God’s grace is there for me and I can do better with His help. I want to do better. God is patient with me and He continues to work in me to make me more like Him. This gives me hope. I am deeply thankful there is hope and grace for this flawed heart of mine.

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Engrafted

Have you experienced the futility of trying to produce spiritual fruit by your own efforts?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

The state where I live is known for producing citrus fruit. There are thousands upon thousands of acres of all kinds and varieties. While there’s incredible crop diversity, most have one thing in common: they grow on sour lemon stock.

The best way to produce good quality fruit is to grow seedlings from sour lemon stock and then attach, by budding or grafting, material from trees that are known to be good producers.

While sour lemon stock may produce hearty trees, the fruit it produces is not edible. But when a graft or bud from sweet fruit is grafted just above the surface, sweet fruit begins to blossom. The old is gone and the new has come.,

In the same way, Jesus does this when we accept Him. We become a new creation. Life takes on new meaning and we begin to blossom into the people God created us to be. The more we engraft God’s Word into our hearts, the more we grow in Christ.

Have you experienced the futility of trying to produce spiritual fruit by your own efforts? If you redirect your energies to “engraft” Scripture into your life and meditate on it day and night, God’s Word will successfully bear good fruit in your life.

Lord, I am not what I used to be, but I’m still not what You created me to be. Help me to be engrafted to You through Your Holy Spirit so I may be more like You. Amen.

Niwas Thapa

For he that findeth me shall find life, and shall receive mercy from the Lord. But he that sinneth against me, harmeth his own soul; All those who hate me love death.’ Proverb. 8:35-36 But God shows his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 He committed no sin, nor was any guile found in his mouth; He did not rebuke in return; He did not threaten when he suffered, but committed himself to the righteous judge. He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we might die to sins and live to righteousness; By His stripes you were healed. 1 st. Proverb. 8:35-36 Nor is salvation in any other; For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 Jesus said to him: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, even those who despise him; And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. So be it! Amen! Revelation 1:7 And he was clothed in blood; And his name is called ‘Word of God’. Revelation 19:13 “And behold, I come quickly; And I have my reward to give to every man according to his work. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Revelation 22:12-13 Note: Today people don’t even have time to go to heaven. Believe in Jesus Christ and you will receive forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life.

TRADING FLAWS FOR GRACE.