7th. November. 2020. Daily Devotion.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. 1 Corinthians 16:19-24
The Oxford Dictionary defines grace as “the free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.”
In 1935 Oswald Chambers wrote: “We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God; we must either receive it (grace) as a gift or do without it.” He also said, “The grace you had yesterday will not do, for today. Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon.”
Paul wrote in Romans 3:24, “All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favour and mercy), through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus.”
God’s gift of grace is given to us, but it is not placed in a box wrapped up with fancy paper and a pretty bow. His gift to us is His unconditional love and unmerited favour. His grace is limitless, and it is always there. It is a free gift from God to us. That is the meaning of the word grace for.
Lord God, we praise You and thank You for Your amazing grace. Help us every moment throughout the day to recall that Your grace is sufficient. Amen
Prayer for the Morning
Compassionate Lord, your mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day. Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, increase in knowledge; ripen for spiritual harvest. Let me this day know You as You are, love You supremely, serve You completely, admire You fully.
Through grace let my will respond to You, knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Your free love alone enables me to serve You. Here then is my empty heart, overflow it with Your choice gifts; here is my blind understanding, chase away its mists of ignorance. Amen ~ from a Puritan prayer, 18th century New England.
Prayer for Goodness
Lord, save me alike from foolish Pride or impious Discontent,
At anything thy wisdom has denied, or anything that goodness lent.
Teach me to feel another’s woe, to right the fault I see:
That mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me
Mean though I am, not wholly so, since quickened by thy breath;
O lead me whereso’er I go, thro’ this day’s life or death! Amen. From Universal Prayer by Alexander Pope
Father, we seek Your wisdom daily. Be with people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries, and the wider world. We pray that they communicate clearly, truthfully, and calmly — with each other and with the public — and that their messages are received and heeded. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection. Amen
We Belong to Each Other. We Belong to You. The Bible says, “where two or three are gathered.” And many, in this moment, will gather no closer than six feet. The Bible says, “they were all gathered together in one place.” And we do not know when we will be together next. Triune God, you exist in eternal relationship. You are One and yet are three. In a time of isolation, draw us closer to this mystery. May it remind us of your truth: even in physical isolation, we are never truly alone. Your love links us together, making us a people. For the Bible also says: We belong to each other. We belong to you. Even now. Especially now. Amen.
Benediction
Now to Him who has given me grace in accordance with His gospel, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for many ages past, but now revealed and made known by the command of the eternal God, so that all mankind might find the obedience that comes from faith; to the only God, the God of wisdom and truth, be glory forever through His only son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
