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Topic: Satisfied (10/11/04)
TITLE: Not fearing God's grace By Robert [Bob] Schaetzle Sr. 10/17/04 |
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Yet, in our Lord’s perspective I’ve learned to recognize and understand each of us are His special creation, for His honor and purpose, to glorify His Kingdom. That He made me just the way I am, as His intention. We affirm this by knowing the depth of His Grace. In Psalm 139:13-16 we read,
‘For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.’ [RSV]
If we understand and accept this truth, to receive His gift of grace, then we’ll begin to allow our fear to dissolve. This was truly accurate through my growing years. Learning to receive grace, and not return what’s not understood with anger or retribution.
Understanding the knowledge and love our Creator has for me began to grow and increase my confidence and faith by leaps and bounds. Laying His word up within my own heart was the secret of learning to surrender my will for His. John the Baptist said it best, “That I must decrease in order for Him to increase.” [John 3:30] That is to say, that as I learned to surrender my will and fears, His Spirit and love began to teach me the value of accepting others just as they are, and ‘loving my neighbor as myself’. Not being fearful of what others might think of me. As a frail creature of our Lord’s design, I began looking to the Cross to find the wisdom and grace that only He could give me. I began not fearing God’s grace as I would seek to love Him more. Human wisdom and reasoning can never equal the resource of God’s infinite love and grace. Let’s not attempt to hinder the Creator at work, but seek His grace and find the riches of His wonderful love. Accepting who I am in God’s eyes gave me a head start to accepting others who might fear what they don’t understand. Especially grace in His purpose for the way I am, or the way our Lord, in His special design brings another into His world to teach the love and grace only a loving God can give.