Grace and Law
God has been faithful to our office group, even as our activity has fluctuated as wildly as our stock price. Can't be helped I guess - sometimes work is just crazy. But just last week, when I thought the meeting would have to be abandoned, J introduced T to the group and T came for the lunch meeting. There were just the two of us, but God demonstrated that He always provides, just in time, and I think we had a nice time sharing and praying. Thanks for keeping me company T :)
In contrast, the zoo trip probably counts as the very height of our activity in the 9-10 months since our re-inception in January 2007. In my view, the zoo trip was an unqualified success - from the preparation and fundraising to the execution and aftermath. In fact, I just met 2 of the children at our recent charity run, and was very happy that both of them remembered me from the trip and (at least out of politeness if nothing else) appeared to be happy to see me too :)
Now to this week's sharing.
We know that we live under God's grace. But it is important to remember that grace does not REPLACE the law. Rather, it enables us, by the power of God, to FULFIL it.
Romans 8:3-4 says "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, IN ORDER THAT the RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW might be FULLY MET in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Not one jot of the law will change (Matt 5:17-20). In fact, in order to fulfil the requirements of the law, God made Jesus, "who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor 5:21)
Paul says "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Rom 6:1-2.
Clearly, although we live under grace, we strive to be holy and fulfil God's law, rather than seek to test the limits of grace. And what may we say is the law? As Jesus said, put simply, it is to love God - and love your neighbour as yourself (Matt 22:38-40).
Therefore, knowing that the grace of God himself ENABLES us to fulfil the law, we should move in full confidence among our family, friends and colleagues to love them with the TIME, ENERGY and RESOURCES that God has provided for you. Can we say that we have no time to pray for our colleagues? Can we say we have no energy to edify our spouses and children? Can we say that we have no resources to fund our missions and charities? No. God's grace enables us to do all these things. His promise is "God is able to make ALL GRACE abound to you, so that in ALL THINGS at ALL TIMES, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in EVERY GOOD WORK." 2 Cor 9:8.
Now to the flip side. Sometimes we may feel that we are already doing a lot for God. Why should we do more or even continue to do what we are doing, when other people who do less appear to be having a better time of it? I think Christian burnout is pretty common, and everyone who is serious about God probably goes through it to some extent. If you have never felt Christian burnout, you are either (a) doing nothing or (b) inhuman. So don't be too pleased if this part of the message means nothing to you. On the contrary, it is probably Bad News ;P
To those of us who may feel burnt out, it is important to remember that while it is certainly our duty to obey God's law, it is still grace alone which empowers us to fulfil it. Hence, even the most righteous among us is still fuelled only by grace. The workers who had worked the whole day were upset when the landlord paid the workers who came in at the last minute the same amount (Matt 20:1-16). When the prodigal son returned after squandering his father's money, the elder son was peeved that a party was being thrown in celebration (Luke 15:11-31).
It is easy for us to compare with those around us and think that we are the workers who came in at first, or that we are the loyal son who stayed with the father. But are we really? Perhaps WE are the workers who came in at the last. Perhaps WE are the prodigal children. By His enormous grace, He still welcomes us, with all our warts - pride, arrogance, stubborness and envy. Grace alone redeems us. So if you are feeling shortchanged or tired out, always remember that God knows what He is doing. In His grace, those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isa 40:31).
May all grace abound to you all, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
In contrast, the zoo trip probably counts as the very height of our activity in the 9-10 months since our re-inception in January 2007. In my view, the zoo trip was an unqualified success - from the preparation and fundraising to the execution and aftermath. In fact, I just met 2 of the children at our recent charity run, and was very happy that both of them remembered me from the trip and (at least out of politeness if nothing else) appeared to be happy to see me too :)
Now to this week's sharing.
We know that we live under God's grace. But it is important to remember that grace does not REPLACE the law. Rather, it enables us, by the power of God, to FULFIL it.
Romans 8:3-4 says "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, IN ORDER THAT the RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW might be FULLY MET in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Not one jot of the law will change (Matt 5:17-20). In fact, in order to fulfil the requirements of the law, God made Jesus, "who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor 5:21)
Paul says "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Rom 6:1-2.
Clearly, although we live under grace, we strive to be holy and fulfil God's law, rather than seek to test the limits of grace. And what may we say is the law? As Jesus said, put simply, it is to love God - and love your neighbour as yourself (Matt 22:38-40).
Therefore, knowing that the grace of God himself ENABLES us to fulfil the law, we should move in full confidence among our family, friends and colleagues to love them with the TIME, ENERGY and RESOURCES that God has provided for you. Can we say that we have no time to pray for our colleagues? Can we say we have no energy to edify our spouses and children? Can we say that we have no resources to fund our missions and charities? No. God's grace enables us to do all these things. His promise is "God is able to make ALL GRACE abound to you, so that in ALL THINGS at ALL TIMES, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in EVERY GOOD WORK." 2 Cor 9:8.
Now to the flip side. Sometimes we may feel that we are already doing a lot for God. Why should we do more or even continue to do what we are doing, when other people who do less appear to be having a better time of it? I think Christian burnout is pretty common, and everyone who is serious about God probably goes through it to some extent. If you have never felt Christian burnout, you are either (a) doing nothing or (b) inhuman. So don't be too pleased if this part of the message means nothing to you. On the contrary, it is probably Bad News ;P
To those of us who may feel burnt out, it is important to remember that while it is certainly our duty to obey God's law, it is still grace alone which empowers us to fulfil it. Hence, even the most righteous among us is still fuelled only by grace. The workers who had worked the whole day were upset when the landlord paid the workers who came in at the last minute the same amount (Matt 20:1-16). When the prodigal son returned after squandering his father's money, the elder son was peeved that a party was being thrown in celebration (Luke 15:11-31).
It is easy for us to compare with those around us and think that we are the workers who came in at first, or that we are the loyal son who stayed with the father. But are we really? Perhaps WE are the workers who came in at the last. Perhaps WE are the prodigal children. By His enormous grace, He still welcomes us, with all our warts - pride, arrogance, stubborness and envy. Grace alone redeems us. So if you are feeling shortchanged or tired out, always remember that God knows what He is doing. In His grace, those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isa 40:31).
May all grace abound to you all, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Comments