SCANDALOUS GRACE

NO MATTER HOW FREQUENT WE GET INTO DARK ISSUES OF LIFE, REMEMBER THAT GOD’S GRACE IS SCANDALOUS AT TIMES.  WE MAY NOT DESERVE IT, BUT HEY; GOD IS GOD; HE IS GOOD (NO, THE BEST!)

THE BROTHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON IS THE MOST LOGICAL CHARACTER IN THE STORY.  BUT STILL, HE MUST NOT QUESTION THE REACTION OF THE FATHER, KASI AT VARIOUS INSTANCES WE ALL RECEIVED OUR SHARE OF SCANDALOUS GRACE.

NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU

FRIEND,

A divorce, a breakup, losing a job, or just feeling seriously down can ground you, rough you up a bit, leave calluses on your feet and grit under your finger nails. But more than that, it leaves you wiser and stronger next time... Life is about experiencing opposites isn't it?"

But, NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU..

Remember,

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME:)

You are well-loved by the LORD:)

PRIVATE LIVES, PUBLIC CONSEQUENCES

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Read Judges 8:22-35
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Then Gideon son of Joash returned home. He had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives. He also had a concubine in Shechem, who gave birth to a son, whom he named Abimelech. / (Judges 8:29-31)

Reflect
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Gideon already had numerous wives. His relationship with a concubine reflects a pattern of disregard for marriage. With her, Gideon bore a son who tore apart his family and brought tragedy upon the nation (see Judges 9). The consequences of Gideon’s private life did perhaps more damage for the nation than whatever public good he had done.

No matter who you are, moral flaws can cause lasting problems, even if we think they’re “private.” Our private sins can leave public consequences, even if we’ve been faithful in other parts of life.

We need to be constantly watchful against temptation and root out sin wherever it appears. Sometimes Satan’s most devastating attacks come in the quiet that follows great victory.

Respond
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Are you obedient to God in some areas of life but not in others? Are you indifferent about some sin because of the good things you do elsewhere? Even though we split up our lives into different dimensions, God sees you as a whole person. He is not fooled into thinking we can keep ourselves safe and segmented. God wants you, all of you. What parts of yourself aren’t yet given up to him?

JESUS CAME TO HEAL HURTING HEARTS

"The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble."
Luke 4:18

"Why can't you get it together?"

"If you would just try harder."

Have you heard any of these statements? Maybe you've even said them to yourself.

Perhaps those who stood on a hot hillside in Nazareth were asking themselves the same questions. Many tried hard to follow all the religious laws, but knew they fell short. Would Jesus give them more rules to follow? Imagine their surprise as Jesus spelled out His personal mission statement:

I've come to open the eyes of the blind.

I've come to set the prisoner free.

I've come with good news for the poor in spirit.

I've come to heal the brokenhearted.

The crowd must have been shocked by His words, for they expected a warrior, not a heart surgeon. Jesus Himself was setting the record straight. He came so that we might be made whole ... through Him.

For those who had been trying harder, striving more, it was a transforming message. They were accustomed to following rules or meeting expectations of man, rather than resting in the power of their almighty God.

When I became a believer, I didn't understand Jesus' mission statement. I was dealing with untended brokenness and trying everything to fix myself. When I grasped the power of Luke 4:18

The power of the cross is not found in what I do, but in what has already been done for me.

Jesus didn't mean for us to do this alone. It's not our strength or power that will transform us. Yes, we make changes. Yes, we open our broken heart to His tender touch. Yes, we allow Him to move us in uncomfortable directions to discover new paths — and leave old ones behind. But we are in a partnership with God ... and He's bigger.

I also discovered I didn't have to earn God's love. Maybe, like me, you thought God would love you one day, when you had it all together.

Jesus' mission statement proclaims that He loves us today. With our baggage and hurting hearts. When we grasp that kind of love, it changes us. It compels us to return that love, and to trust Jesus from our hearts.

This trust helps us listen for His voice. We sense when He is teaching or redirecting us. We weigh temptation in light of our love for our heavenly Father. This relationship helps us discover our "true selves, [our] child-of-God selves" (John 1:12)

Last, Luke 4:18 

reminded me that I didn't have to run away just because I felt broken.

A hurting heart can send us running down paths we may regret, searching for something or someone to ease our pain. Jesus' mission statement invites us to stop running and rest in Him, expectant that our true selves will emerge with His healing touch.

The truth of Luke 4:18

is ours today to hold close, for Jesus came to heal our hurting hearts.

Dear Jesus, for the longest time I've been concentrating on my efforts, but today I expectantly rest in You. Thank You that the power of the cross is not in what I do, but in what has already been done for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflect and Respond:
Today, you read about what you don't have to do. You don't need to fix yourself, or earn God's love or run any more. In fact, the more you don't do these things, the more you live in Him. The more you don't do these things, the more you build a foundation of rest and trust. The more you don't do these things, the more joy you rediscover in your faith.

What will you not do today?

Power Verses: /
Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (NIV)

WHAT’S YOUR BATTLE?

Self-sufficiency is an enemy when it causes us to believe we can always do what needs to be done in our own strength. To prevent this attitude among Gideon’s soldiers, God reduced their number from 32,000 to 300. With an army this small, no one would doubt that victory was from God. The men certainly could not take the credit.

Like Gideon, we must recognize the danger of fighting in our own strength. We can be confident of victory only if we put our confidence in God and not ourselves.

Facing overwhelming odds, Gideon was afraid. God understood his fear, but he didn’t excuse Gideon from his task. Instead he allowed Gideon to slip into the enemy camp and overhear a conversation that would give him courage (Judges 7:12-15).

WHAT’S YOUR BATTLE? God can give you the strength you need for any situation. And don’t be startled by the way he helps you. Like Gideon, you must listen to God and be ready to take the first step. Only after you begin to obey God will you find the courage to move ahead.