Power of grace - 3

Philippians 2:13 TPT

"God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him."

Today, I would like to speak of God's grace that gives us power to live a revitalized and holy life that pleases Him. A life that pleases the Lord is a life of obedience. In the Bible Jesus told us that if we love Him, we obey Him and His commandments. Grace then becomes the vehicle that fulfills our obedience to God's Word.

1 John 3:9 reminds us that;

"Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." I love this Scripture because it is a reminder that when we are born again, God also gives us the ability to live holy lives without sin.

Before starting my journey of salvation, I desired to stop consuming alcohol because I eventually realized it was a coping mechanism that had come as a result of grief. In my own effort and strength, I tried to quit drinking but was unsuccessful. However, when I gave my life to Christ, the desire to consume alcohol was completely washed away from me by God's unmerited grace and I'm still thankful to this day.

Galatians 5:19-21 gives an example of the results of following a sinful nature which include; "sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these".

The results of the sinful nature is unholiness which separates us from God and His will concerning our lives. This is the precise reason our Abba Father had to send His only Son to die for us so that we could have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14). This in turn gives us access to God's power (grace) which empowers us as believers to live holy lives and conquer any sinful nature that may creep up to defile our right standing with God through faith.

After all, our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit whom we have received from God and as believers, we are encouraged to glorify God in our spirit and bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

In conclusion, the power of grace gives us access to our reconciliation to Jesus by God the Father which enables us live holy and blameless lives before Him. I believe Colossians 1:21- 23 NKJV summarizes the above well;

"21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He (Jesus Christ) has reconciled

22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-

23 if indeed you continue, in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which was preached to every creature under heaven..."