11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...
Appropriating grace is not just an act of positive thinking, of "putting our mind to it," although Biblical mind renewal is a key component. We are to live out of the new nature, recreated in the image of Christ, who has given us a new heart, a new spirit, a new capacity to live a holy life. God doesn't call us to somehow "do better," no, He desires to do it through us, by His power. Christ died so that He might be our life.
We are recipients of the grace of God - provided for us through the death of our Lord Jesus. And, we are not to receive that grace lightly, recognizing the high price the Lord paid for us. The apostle Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15:
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
The administration of former Alabama governor Robert Bentley has now ended, and the circumstances leading up to his departure can provide some valuable lessons for each of us.
According to a USA Today piece that originated from the Montgomery Advertiser:
We also recognize in this unfortunate series of events that we should not rejoice in another’s failures. No matter how much you believe someone should get what is coming to him or her, you can adopt an attitude of wanting God's best for that person. Because we are people of love, Christ's love, we can trust that He will work in a person's heart.
We can also remember that except for the grace of God, we are without hope. We are all capable of sinful acts, heinous acts before Almighty God, because we were born with a sin nature, and even though our spirits have been renewed, we still live in the flesh. And, the temptations of the enemy and the lures of this world can be powerful. We might look at someone else and condemn him or her for his actions, but how have we violated God's standards? How have we missed the mark? We need the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit each day to direct and strengthen us - no one is immune from temptation; we are prone to sin, but through abiding in Christ, we can know His victory.
And, you have to take the necessary steps to preserve character and glorify God. I think it's telling that in this season in which people are debating whether or not Vice-President Pence should be alone with a woman who is not his wife, you have to think if Robert Bentley had observed that practice, he would quite possibly still be governor of Alabama. Even though he and the former First Lady had been married over 50 years, he was not immune from temptation. We can be challenged to make sure we build a fortress, a wall around our marriages...whatever it takes. And, relationships - with God, with our spouses, and others - are secure in an atmosphere of accountability. Did the former governor have a circle holding him accountable? Lack of accountability brings with it vulnerability.
Finally, we can be encouraged to pray for our leaders. Yesterday, there were two swearing-in ceremonies in our land - a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court and a new governor for Alabama. They - and their colleagues - need our prayers. It is vital that we follow the admonition in 1st Timothy 2 to pray for those in authority. These are tough times, and, whether they realize it our not, our leaders need our prayers.
+++++
We are recipients of the grace of God - provided for us through the death of our Lord Jesus. And, we are not to receive that grace lightly, recognizing the high price the Lord paid for us. The apostle Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15:
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
The administration of former Alabama governor Robert Bentley has now ended, and the circumstances leading up to his departure can provide some valuable lessons for each of us.
According to a USA Today piece that originated from the Montgomery Advertiser:
In his first public statement since the Alabama Ethics Commission found evidence Gov. Robert Bentley violated ethics and campaign finance laws — and hours before a report that could lead to his removal as governor — Bentley said he had faced major struggles in the last year, and asked Alabamians to "please forgive me."
“Once again, let me say to the people of the state how sorry I am,” said Bentley. “There’s no doubt I have let you down. All I ask is for you to continue to pray for me, and I will continue to pray for you.”Fox News reported on yesterday's press conference, at which he announced his resignation:
Bentley stepped down as part of a plea deal that saw him admit to two misdemeanor campaign and ethics charges. The 74-year-old grandfather of six was given a 30-day suspended jail sentence and a year of probation. The agreement includes provisions that Bentley not seek elected office again, that he repay campaign funds totaling $36,912 within a week and perform 100 hours of community service as a physician.
In a brief statement to his staffers, who applauded as he approached the microphones, Bentley said, "there have been times that I have let you and our people down, and I’m sorry for that."
"I can no longer allow my family and my dear friends … to be subjected to the consequences that my past actions have brought upon them," Bentley added.I think one of the apparent themes in the Bentley saga is his plea for forgiveness. He is a professed Christian and I know is quite familiar with that concept. We can be confident that when we confess our sins to God, He is "faithful and just" to forgive us and cleanse us. But, there is a companion concept, and that is repentance. One cannot know the heart of the governor; clearly, he has shown some contrition, and we can hope and pray he will experience the forgiveness of Christ. We also know that as we sow, we will reap - just because you make a public declaration that you have done wrong and wish to be forgiven, that does not necessarily mean the consequences go away. Think of all the criminals who would try to use an apology scheme to get off the hook. If the law has been broken, then there is a restitution principle at play. God forgives us, but we are not guaranteed we will be spared the consequences of our wrong actions. And, the "reaping" can sometimes help us to learn a lesson and have that reinforced.
We also recognize in this unfortunate series of events that we should not rejoice in another’s failures. No matter how much you believe someone should get what is coming to him or her, you can adopt an attitude of wanting God's best for that person. Because we are people of love, Christ's love, we can trust that He will work in a person's heart.
We can also remember that except for the grace of God, we are without hope. We are all capable of sinful acts, heinous acts before Almighty God, because we were born with a sin nature, and even though our spirits have been renewed, we still live in the flesh. And, the temptations of the enemy and the lures of this world can be powerful. We might look at someone else and condemn him or her for his actions, but how have we violated God's standards? How have we missed the mark? We need the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit each day to direct and strengthen us - no one is immune from temptation; we are prone to sin, but through abiding in Christ, we can know His victory.
And, you have to take the necessary steps to preserve character and glorify God. I think it's telling that in this season in which people are debating whether or not Vice-President Pence should be alone with a woman who is not his wife, you have to think if Robert Bentley had observed that practice, he would quite possibly still be governor of Alabama. Even though he and the former First Lady had been married over 50 years, he was not immune from temptation. We can be challenged to make sure we build a fortress, a wall around our marriages...whatever it takes. And, relationships - with God, with our spouses, and others - are secure in an atmosphere of accountability. Did the former governor have a circle holding him accountable? Lack of accountability brings with it vulnerability.
Finally, we can be encouraged to pray for our leaders. Yesterday, there were two swearing-in ceremonies in our land - a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court and a new governor for Alabama. They - and their colleagues - need our prayers. It is vital that we follow the admonition in 1st Timothy 2 to pray for those in authority. These are tough times, and, whether they realize it our not, our leaders need our prayers.
No comments:
Post a Comment