Saving Grace

For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn’t earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing. – Ephesians 4:2 (The Voice)

Simply put, saving grace speaks of God’s willingness and desire to redeem – an unfathomable degree of favour offered to people “even though we’re buried under mountains of sin”. It is a special gift from God to us human beings, a higher grace of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, into God’s very presence. This saving grace gives us full access into the Throne Room of God – to approach without reproach.

God’s gift of grace which offers salvation to all has been revealed, unveiled, and everything we do must be based on accepting and receiving this gift in our lives. Like Rahab, whose sin was removed as far as the east is from the west, we must act with boldness, drop all our illusions of our own righteousness, or unrighteousness and humbly take up God’s gracious offer and enter into His grace.

So even before the New Covenant dispensation of grace, God was bestowing His saving grace upon sinners, for when we look at Rahab’s story, we see God’s grace touching the life of a woman making a living as a prostitute. Rahab was a perfect candidate for God’s saving grace. Grace can be seen as God’s divine assistance – His super natural power at work being made perfect in weakness. Grace can be identified as the medium through which God has effected salvation (see Titus 2:11) and, when taken into the message of Christ, this concept of unusual favour shown to the undeserving, fills out with a newer and more enriched content.

Yes, this unmerited favour of God toward sinners which has provided for our redemption, not only secures our eternal salvation but is also the sustaining influence that enables us to persevere throughout the Christian journey. You see, it’s not God’s intention for any of us to walk along this narrow road of salvation by our own strength but by means of His sufficient grace which empowers us. Don’t ever believe that you can do anything to save yourself, it is only through God’s grace through faith in His Son, Jesus (see Ephesians 2:8). 

Saving grace reveals God’s goodness and kindness and love toward human beings, and the great news is that it is available to all people but not dependent upon any person. This unequivocal gift of Salvation is really about God since it is His initiatory act, not that we do not have a role to play, indeed we do. Our part is to avail ourselves of the gift. Grace has been offered, it has not been taken away, it is here for whosoever will accept it, receive it, grab hold of it and not let go…it’s our daily requirement for spiritual strength. 

Now, hear the voice of God,

“Beloved, My grace is enough to cover and sustain you. My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Saving Grace

Shelley Johnson © January 18, 2018

From Joseph to Judah

The Bible is filled with accounts of events we tend to overlook. These tales are hardly ever found in any preacher’s sermon but these stories are filled with important lessons for us to learn. Understand that nothing in the Bible is without benefit.

One such tale interrupts another. It is curiously sandwiched right in between Joseph’s story. This tale is about one of Joseph’s brothers, Judah and his first son’s wife Tamar. I’ll not recount the entire narrative here, instead I urge you to read it for yourself in Genesis chapter 38. The crux of the matter is this, Judah promised Tamar that she would be given to his youngest son after the other two sons', whom she had been given in marriage, lives were taken by God because of their wicked behaviour. Judah, fearing for the life of his third son, reneged on that promise. So Tamar took matters into her own hands; covered by a veil, she disguised herself as a prostitute, had sex with her father-in-law and subsequently bore him twin sons, Perez and Zerah.

I wonder: how was Tamar so sure that her devious scheme would work? Is it that she knew of Judah’s penchant for prostitutes? Clearly this was not a practice that was foreign to Judah. In those days, prostitution was not uncommon, and its punishment was severe – execution by burning. 

In verse 24, for her act of prostitution, Judah orders the burning of Tamar, until he comes to the realization that his own deceit was worse than her deception.

God’s unmerited favour is unmistakably obvious in Joseph’s story but not so much on the face of Judah’s. This “sordid” tale of deception highlights how the grace of God can enter into the mess we create and turn it around for our good and for His divine purpose. God is so adept at creating something worthy out of the depravation of our actions.

Going back to chapter 37, we are told of an act of depravity that was thwarted. Joseph’s brothers were determined to murder him but one of them said to the others, 

“What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” (v.26 NIV) 

By persuading them to sell Joseph rather than kill him, Judah saved Joseph’s life, and perhaps his own through this show of favour. 

First, Judah’s grace toward his young brother Joseph then, the grace he demonstrated to Tamar, speak of a merciful and compassionate nature that may have effected the dispensation of the grace he received from God. This was no sleight of hand, this was God’s heavy hand doling out grace to a man whose actions were deemed disgraceful. But isn’t that the nature of God? A God of mercy and compassion who pours out grace on the disgraced. 

Now this account is certainly not about the right for wrongdoing but is yet another example of God’s incredible grace that relentlessly pursues the sinful – that’s all of us, so don’t scoff at Judah and Tamar.

You see, both Judah and Tamar, through their son Perez, are in Jesus’ genealogy. Jesus belonged to the Tribe of Judah; in Revelation 5:5 He is called “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” – what does this tell us about God?

There’s much more expansive symbolism within this brief but necessary interruption, however, today our focus is on the veil of God’s grace that covers His Word from Genesis to Revelation. 

This saving grace that preserved the life of Joseph and set apart the tribe of Judah for greatness is the same saving grace that descended with Jesus from the comfort of heaven into a disquieted sin-filled world to save you and me. 

From Joseph to Judah

Shelley Johnson © January 16, 2018

A Special Kind of Favour

We’re still looking at Abraham in our quest to know who God is. It’s just a glimpse really but seeing how God dealt with Abraham, and even Adam and Eve, can help us better understand the character of this Almighty God whom we seek to know.

Long before Abraham did anything “worthy”, God made promises to him - choosing a man from a city embroiled in idol worship and radiating depravity, on whom to foist His unconditional promises. Abram, as he was named at that time, had done absolutely nothing to earn, as far as we know, this special kind of favour. After all, he was the son of an idol worshiper, and according to Jewish tradition, an idol maker. Who would’ve thought that a man like that could ever be God’s choice? 

As Paul later says in 1 Corinthians 1:27, God loves to confound the wisdom of men by choosing things, (and people), that the world regards as destitute of influence, value and worth. Left up to us, Abram would have rot in the city of Ur. For that matter we were not going to look there for our pick of “Father of many nations”…no siree Bob, we’re too wise to make such a foolish choice.

Abraham was a man from an idol worshipping community. A man whose fear would cause him to lie in order to save his own skin (Genesis 12:10-20). A man whose doubts would cause him to believe that he could bring about God’s promise of a son by having sex with Hagar, his wife’s servant (Genesis 16:3-5). 

You see, Abraham was also a man who did not hesitate to answer God’s call. And even though he was a doubting, and frightened idol worshipper, he still packed up his belongings and left Ur. As a matter of fact, he packed up too much because he took Terah and Lot too, but that's another topic for discussion.

So, who is this God who shows this type of man this kind of favour? 

A God who absolutely delights in the un-delightful to bring about His purpose. A God who would use what we would so readily discard as useless. A God who so loves that He desires nothing more than to pour out upon you and me, just as He did with Abraham, a special kind of favour…His unmatchable grace that we oftentimes fail to recognize was very present in Old Testament days. 

Today, I encourage you to look again, from the beginning, from Adam to Abraham, Noah and the Ark, Joseph to Judah, see God’s grace – a special kind of favour – that permeates their stories.

A Special Kind of Favour

Shelley Johnson © January 8, 2018

Seeking Favour from Nanna

In ancient times, the city of Ur, from which Abraham and his family came, was a seat of idol worship, and one of the many gods that were idolized at that time was called Nanna, the moon god. It was Nanna that the people of Ur sought for the success of their crops, the fertility of their herds and the protection of their families. Those ancient people lived their lives seeking favour from Nanna.

Then Joshua addressed all the people:

“This is what God, the God of Israel, says: A long time ago your ancestors, Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor, lived to the east of the River Euphrates. They worshiped other gods.” – Joshua 24:2 (MSG)

We can speculate that at that time, Abraham, following the religious customs of the day and those of his father Terah, may also have practiced idol worship. He too may have been seeking favour from Nanna but then something incredible happened to Abraham in the midst of paganism, he heard the voice of God...

“Abram, get up and go! Leave your country. Leave your relatives and your father’s home, and travel to the land I will show you. Don’t worry—I will guide you there. I have plans to make a great people from your descendants. And I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.” – Genesis 12:1-2 (The Voice)

The greatest expression of God’s favour is His salvation!

Like with Abraham, our salvation is not based on anything we do that would merit us God’s favour. Like Abraham, God saves us even when we are in the midst of sin, for His Word clearly states that it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

The fact that this ancient god Nanna was also named Sin is not wasted on irony. God removed Abraham from the worship of Sin into a new way of life – leaving everything that was familiar to him behind to begin life anew. Isn’t that what our own path of salvation dictates? The favour of God on Abraham’s life was determined long before he was called, favour that no ersatz deity could bestow. 

God’s favour is beyond our comprehension. God extends His unequivocal favour to all who have faith in Him. God wants to amaze you with His goodness toward you. He wants you to delight in Him so that He can give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). The favour of a moon god can never compare to the favour of God on your life. Further more we are to have faith in the Creator, not the created.

The Bible does not tell us whether or not Abraham had any prior knowledge of the Only One True God but he certainly obeyed God’s call when it came. God told him to go and he went. For the most part Abraham stayed in faith and walked into God’s blessings. We’re not called to follow Abraham’s failures but rather to pattern our lives according to the faith he had in God.

“It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going.” – Hebrews 11:8 (GNT)

Abraham had faith to believe, trust, and obey God and, immediately stopped seeking favour from Nanna. God blessed him exponentially, and will do the same for us when we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness above all else…

Seeking Favour from Nanna

Shelley Johnson © Thursday January 4, 2018

See your Worth and Value

David’s question to God in Psalm 8 verse 4 reads,

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?” (AMPC)

David had been marveling at all the magnificent beauty and absolute wonder of God’s creation that surrounded him when he asked God that question. How often do we do the same thing? We marvel at all the beauty that surrounds us in nature but fail to recognize God’s incredible handiwork in ourselves and each other. His best creative work made in His own image and likeness. We are all too eager to cry down ourselves and others.

Actually I’d dare to say that this world we live in promotes and values a false standard of beauty. A false standard that we must not fall victim to. You and I must remind ourselves that God does not see us as the world does – He has crowned you and me with glory and honour (v. 5). To Him we are more valuable than diamonds, more precious than the finest gold. We are His masterpiece, yes we are, but you don’t have to take my word, for it’s exactly what Paul said to the Ephesians,

“For we are God’s masterpiece.” – Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

The time has come for you to see your worth and value, not from other’s perspective, not even from your own clouded view, but from God’s point of view. In Psalm 139:15 David says that you were carefully woven, bit by bit, intricately sculpted in your mother’s womb. You, my dear, are covered in God’s fingerprints, you are His workmanship. You have intrinsic value and worth. The same God who created the hills and the heavens, the stars, moon and sun, the vast oceans, mountains, flora and fauna and galaxies in all their glorious beauty, created you, His most prized creation. When you appear the mountains and hills burst into song and the trees of the fields clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12).

Who are you that God should be mindful of you and care for you? You are the one whom God so loved that He gave His only Son to die so that you may have Life. 

Almighty God delights in you, He shields you, guards you, and cares for you as the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10)

Zephaniah 3:17 (ISV) says this about you,

“The Lord your God among you is powerful— He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you.” 

See your Worth and Value

Shelley Johnson © Wednesday January 3, 2018

From the Beginning

How well do you know God? Do you truly see God in your life? Do you ever feel Emmanuel – God with us? Do you see God’s hand at work, or do you just chalk everything up to coincidence? What is your true perspective? What is the status of your relationship with God?

Our relationship with God is mapped out in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. From the beginning we can see God as crucial to life, not just our own, but the life of everything that exists. 

In Nehemiah 9:6 (GNT) it is written,

“You, Lord, You alone are Lord; You made the heavens and the stars of the sky. You made land and sea and everything in them; You gave life to all.”

And Apostle Paul tells us this in Romans 1:20 (NRSV),

“Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things He has made.”

So, if God gave life to all and we can see Him in everything that exists, then in a sense God is always with us; His hand is everywhere around us. With this in mind, shall we begin again, from the beginning, with a new perspective?

From the beginning God wanted to be in relationship with His creation, especially with man – you and me. Yes, God wants a relationship with you, otherwise you won’t be here…you won’t exist. Believe it.

The Bible tells us that when God decided to create man, unlike those which He’d already created by speaking them into being, God formed man, Adam, from the “dust of the earth”. Have you ever formed anything from dirt? 

When I was a child, I loved to play in the dirt and to make things from dirt. I’d get down on the ground, digging up the earth to get the right amount of soil for my creation. I’d carefully remove any stones, pebbles and other debris, then add just the adequate amount of moisture to ensure that my dirt formation would come out as perfectly as I intended. By the time I was done, mud would be encrusted in my fingernails, all over my face, and my clothes would be thoroughly soiled. A muddied mess, I’d take a step back to admire my mud masterpiece, created by my own hands, pleased with my crudely fashioned mud cake…

Adam was no crudely fashioned mud cake. Every line, every curve, every chiseled part of him was gently and deliberately sculpted. Then, cupping Adam’s face in His hands, God breathed His own breath into Adam’s nostrils. 

What is the picture you see? I see an unusual intimacy – a love that is profoundly passionate and deeply rooted. The uniqueness of the love of the Creator for the only creation made in His own image and likeness is undoubtedly apparent. Yes, from the beginning, we see a God that is so very powerful yet so very gentle. Speaking galaxies into being, yet caringly and lovingly breathing Adam into being. Creating everything for Adam’s comfort and pleasure even before placing him in the Garden. God’s and Adam’s beautiful relationship produced harmony in the Garden.

That same God, Who is powerful and gentle, transcendent and intimate, creates and relates, wants to have that relationship with you. He knows you but He longs for you to know Him, to see Him for who He truly is, to be in harmony with Him, and for you to understand what you mean to Him – your value, your worth…

From the Beginning

Shelley Johnson © Tuesday January 2, 2018

Shall We Begin Again?

The start of a brand new year always prompts us to look back at the year that has passed. We are tempted to look at what we could have done and what we should have done or not done – where we may have been had we just made a different decision.

We try to peer into the future of the present year to see what we could and should do to make things better than before. I guess it’s natural for us to act this way but let us not forget what Apostle Paul advised in Philippians 3:13,

“…I do not have that life yet. But I do one thing. I forget everything that is behind me and look forward to that which is ahead of me.” (NLV)

Beloved, I believe that these words of Paul can be applied to every area of our lives, not just the spiritual. However, spiritually speaking, I believe that if we are to move forward with God, we must begin again in the form of renewing our commitment to Him and our relationship with Him.

We shall begin again by resolving to get to know Who God is, and we can do so by going back to the beginning – Genesis, chapters one and two, to find God in all His glory. To see God from the very start, all over again. Will you join me on this journey of re-discovery?

Shall we begin again?

Shelley Johnson © Monday January 1, 2018