Friday, 31st March 2023
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: GRACE BE WITH YOU
THEME SCRIPTURE: “for by professing it, some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.” - 1 Timothy 6:21
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What is grace?
- What does it mean for grace to be with you in our day?
Grace is a subject you cannot escape in Christian discussions. Benedictions are shared with the phrase, “the grace of our Lord Jesus…” Some Christians respond to ‘How are you’ by saying, “His grace is sufficient for me”. Grace is central to the Christian walk. Had it not been the grace of our Lord, we would have been the most miserable of men. But the question is, ‘what is grace’ before we move to our theme scripture.
In the Old Testament, the word ‘grace’ was hardly used. Instead, the word ‘favor’ was used. Grace is unmerited favor, but the grace of our Lord Jesus is unmerited God’s favor encapsulated in the finished works of Christ on the cross. In other words, when Jesus said it is finished, He fully paid for us, to have freely, everything that pertains to life and godliness. The finished works of Christ is beautiful and also powerful, Precious One.
It is like you woke up one day and everything you needed and will ever need is fully paid for. All you need to do is to accept that payment on your behalf and just spend.
It is on this basis that the book of first Timothy ends with the blessed words ‘grace be with you’. Paul had been prompting Timothy of the fact that the truth of Christ is going to face strong opposition from false teachers and those whose faith are in science. The truth will be under attack and it will take true believers who hold the truth of Christ dear; those who believe that the gospel had been delivered to them to also deliver to the next generation to defend it. To do that, it will take the power of the finished works of Christ. Hence, grace be with you. What Paul described in his days is not different from ours. Today, the Truth is being attacked from all angles. First they mocked the truth and said God is dead. They mocked virginity so they could promote the sin of fornication. They mocked our faith and prayer and said we pray to a God who does not exist. Failing to get the results, the next move is to make the truth-bearers uncomfortable. They will want us to be second class citizens of our societies, tagging the Christian as non-progressive. Fortunately, grace is with us. The greatest war in human history is yet to be witnessed. It will not be between nations or institutions. It will be a war between the truth and lies, evil and godliness, light and darkness. But thanks be to God and our Lord Jesus, who has said, "I will be with you even to the end of the age' and ‘I will build my church…’
Meaning, He is leading us to victory; the victory He has already purchased with His blood. Precious One, grace is with us.
As people of grace what must we do?
We must trumpet loud and clear the Truth. If a field is uncultivated, weeds will automatically grow on it. Similarly, if we are not loud about the truth, share the truth, lies will grow strong. Further, we must also live the truth. As living examples of the truth, we give impetus to what we proclaim. If we don’t, we become liars who profess one thing and live contrary to it.
Beloved in Christ, the word of God today is this – Grace be with you. Should not your response be – Yes Lord, Grace is with me? Then walk in His grace forever more. Glory to God!
FURTHER READING – 2 Corinthians 13:14
QUESTION TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- In what way are you going to contribute in making known the truth?
CONFESSION
Precious Father, thank you for your manifold graces made available unto me through Christ Jesus. I affirm that your love is a banner over my life and my glorious victory in everything. As a custodian of the gospel of Christ, grace is multiplied unto me, both to will and make know the Truth. Amen
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Numbers 14; Proverbs 10; Luke 23
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