From the Word:  “The true grace” (from I Peter 5:1-14)
”Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God.  Stand firm in it!” (I Peter 5:12 NASB)

Lord, what is true grace?  And what is the contrast with “true grace”; is it “false grace”?  Over the years I have benefitted from books, studies, and sermons about grace, and yet what have I taken away from them?  Is grace a real and practical concept to me?  How do I see it in my life?  Going back over this book of I Peter, since that is what he is referring to, have I taken to heart his exhortations:  a living hope, an imperishable inheritance, a testing of my faith by fire, holy behavior, redemption by Your most precious blood, and fervent love for one another… and that is just an overview of chapter one!  Might be helpful to review the entire book again.

I guess I still have a lot to learn about grace.  I know intellectually that without Your grace my case is hopeless; but it’s so easy to get caught up in thinking too highly of my own petty accomplishments, and  I lose sight of who You are and how much I must trust You with everything.  And on the practical side I don’t want to presume upon Your grace, looking for the “minimum behavior line” of obedience, thinking that what I don’t live out in obedience and holy behavior is okay, since Your grace will compensate for my irresponsibility.   O Lord, save me from this wrong thinking that reveals a heart not wholly devoted to You! 

Meanwhile, may I stand firm - may I look for what Your grace is, and not rely on my own strength in the flesh.  Amen.

Please pray with us:
I am currently doing research for two Bible studies.  One is a re-do of a comprehensive doctrinal study on the Holy Spirit that I did…golly, that was 30 years ago!  I am in a discussion with a friend who had some good questions regarding the Holy Spirit, so I am taking this opportunity to do the study over again with him from the ground up (no fair going over my old notes!).  The other is covering new information for me - the Nav metro staff around the country have been encouraged to study the topics of justice, mercy, and shalom.  I have already benefitted from discussions at our national metro directors meetings in Dallas back in January, and I am now continuing these studies with our local Philly metro staff. 

Please pray for me as I spend time in the word over the next few months, that I would continue to approach the Scriptures with an open and teachable heart, and that I would discipline myself to make time for study a priority in my schedule.  Thanks!  

Oh yeah, and that God would teach me what He knows I need to learn, especially about Him!   :-) 

- John

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