“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” James 4:6 (NIV) Grace is getting what we do not deserve. We do not deserve God’s forgiveness, salvation, reconciliation, favor, blessing, and heaven. But God demonstrates His love by gracing us with that which we do not deserve. God stands in opposition to the proud but responds with grace to the humble. So what does humility look like? As we examine the life of Jesus, we see humility defined. Jesus willingly put others before Himself. Jesus lived selflessly and died sacrificially. Jesus came to this earth to serve and to save. How will you respond? “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 (NIV) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) We are to humble ourselves. As an act of the will, we are to choose to humble ourselves. God can navigate circumstances to bring humility into our lives to remind us of our dependency upon Him. Yet, God wants to us choose the way of humility without the influence of outward circumstances. Based on our love relationship with God, we are to respond to His grace by exemplifying a life of humility. Is there an element of pride in your life? Have you exhibited the sin of pride through your conversation or your conduct? Trying to do life your way instead of God’s way is an expression of pride. Embrace the way of humility which places God’s agenda above your own agenda. Anticipate God’s grace to flow like a river! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Category: Grace
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12-13 (NIV) Grace is getting what we do not deserve. We do not deserve God’s love. We do not deserve God’s gift of eternal life. We do not deserve our new identity in Christ. We do not deserve having our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Yet, God graced us with these and many other spiritual realities. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Because of our sin, we deserve separation, punishment, and alienation. Because of our sin, we deserve eternal damnation. Because of our sin, we deserve total isolation from God’s abiding Presence. Yet, God extends His mercy to us and did not give us what we deserved. Instead, God has blessed us, redeemed us, included us, sealed us, and lavished us with His love. Because of God’s mercy, we have a song to sing and a message to declare. As recipients of God’s mercy, we have been given a clean canvas upon which we join God in His redemptive activity. May God’s merciful treatment of us radically transforms our conversation and our conduct! May our words and our walk exhibit mercy to others as God has exhibited to us! “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 (NIV) Viewing others from God’s perspective will produce the fragrance of mercy in our lives. May that aroma bring others closer to the love of God that we have found in Christ! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” James 2:1 (NIV) James gives perspective to the believers who have been dispersed by the persecution in Jerusalem. He is writing to the Jews of the Diaspora. They are living outside of their homeland. They are being exposed to different cultures and to different philosophies for living. James reminds them that they are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Their position in Christ is to inform their behavior toward others. We have been transformed by God’s grace and adopted into His family. Our identity is that of being believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives take on new meaning as we embrace the way of Jesus. His life and His mission become our reality. Jesus wants to transform the culture through us. Thus, we are not to show favoritism. We are not to value one person over another. We are not to favor one people group over another people group. “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.’” Lev 19:15 (NIV) “I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.” 1 Tim 5:21 (NIV) The spirit of favoritism does not reflect the heart of God. As His children, we are not to show favoritism. God has called us to extend His love to every people group on earth. That means to impartially radiate His love and compassion to every person regardless of their skin color or social status. A great start would be for you to begin praying for people who are not like you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matt 6:14-15 (NIV) Forgiveness is immediate; trust takes time. Would it not be hypocritical to receive God’s forgiveness personally and then refuse to extend God’s forgiveness to others? We do not earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others, but we demonstrate God’s forgiveness as we forgive others. Jesus expounded on this concept of receiving and extending forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. We are to forgive others instantly as a result of our being recipients of God’s instant forgiveness. You don’t have to ponder the decision to forgive those who have wounded you. Forgiving those who have hurt you does not validate their behavior or condone their actions, but rather honors God by mirroring His forgiveness towards you. The grace and mercy that God lavishes on you becomes a blessing that flows through you to those who have wounded you. By extending forgiveness, you are allowing the life of Christ to be evident in you and through you. Forgiveness is immediate; trust takes time. Just because you forgive someone does not mean that it is safe to trust that person. God is not asking you to extend forgiveness and then embrace a posture of vulnerability and susceptibility. You are to walk wisely. It takes time and multiple opportunities for a person to demonstrate trustworthiness. Just as you would not dare cross a bridge that is not deemed trustworthy, you would not trust an individual who has failed to be trustworthy. Extend forgiveness immediately and then pray for the person you have forgiven. Ask God to transform the one you have forgiven and to help that person become worthy of your trust. It is possible that you may never trust that person again. However, extending forgiveness is not optional in God’s economy. In my daily quiet time, I came across this question by Henry Blackaby that God is using in my life, “Would you want God to forgive you in the same way you are presently forgiving others?” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Something Great (1)
Do something great by extending God’s grace and peace. “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:2 (NIV) You cannot give what you do not have. On this first day of the year, reflect on your salvation event. Remember, salvation is an event followed by a process. Where were you when you responded to God’s offer of salvation? Think about the moment you confessed your sin and invited Jesus to take over your life. You became a recipient of God’s grace. Grace is something you cannot earn nor deserve. Grace is a gift from God based on the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. You received God’s riches at Christ’s expense. In God’s grace, you received the gift of eternal life. Your eternal destination is secure. Yet, there’s more. The result of receiving God’s grace gift is peace. You are now in a right relationship with God in that Jesus took on the full wrath of God for your sin. The righteousness of Christ has been imputed to your account. Peace is the fruit of your love relationship with God made possible by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Peace is not connected to circumstances. You can be in the midst of a trying situation and yet have the peace of God in your life. You can be facing adversity in your daily living and still have the peace of God. Now that you have the grace and peace of God, are you willing to share that eternal gift with others? Is there anyone in your sphere of influence who is in need of God’s grace and peace? Begin praying for them by name and allow God to use you in the process. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’” Luke 23:39-41 (NIV) Death row awaits with anticipation as the guard passes by one cell after another until he comes to your cell. The consequences of your criminal behavior reach the pinnacle as you intake your final few breaths. But wait, the guard unlocks the cell door and announces that you are completely free to leave the prison grounds. You have been pardoned! You will not have to pay for your sin! Now wait a minute. How would you categorize such a transaction? Maybe there’s a word that comprehends such an act. Consider the word, grace. Perhaps mercy is not getting what we deserve and grace is getting what we do not deserve. Think about it. We do not deserve forgiveness, peace, a second chance, or love. But God gives us what we do not deserve. Jesus responded to the repentant criminal on the cross by saying, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Now that’s giving the criminal something he does not deserve. I think that when it comes to our sinful state, we are all on death row! But, God gives us what we do not deserve. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast”(Eph. 2:8-9 NIV). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care