MORE GRACE

II Corinthians 5:18-20 – But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation--that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.  It was God (personally present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against men their trespasses (but cancelling them);  and committing to the message of reconciliation - of the restoration to favor.  So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us.  We (as Christ’s personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered to you) and be reconciled to God.

It is amazing how we as Christians can be professing the name of Christ and yet live our lives so separated and apart from who He is truly is to us.  Our main challenge as God’s people is to receive and live out the life He has already purchased for us at Calvary.  That is really what grace/favor is all about.  To have favor means to be particularly esteemed and preferred.  It means to enjoy special attention, personal affection and preferential treatment, even without being deserving of it.  There is nothing about you or me that can cause us to become the favored of God.  He has chosen us for that place of honor and esteem by an act of His sovereign grace.  All we can do is receive His gracious gift in an attitude of thanksgiving and humility.

God assures each of us that we are of those that He favors.  He wants us to be secure in who we are in Christ Jesus so that we will have the confidence and assurance we need to walk victoriously through this life drawing others to share with us in His marvelous grace.

So we are crowned with God’s favor.  The main reason we are not tapping into these blessings of the Lord which has been placed upon us is because we don’t believe we deserve them or because we have not been taught that they are ours.  It is time for those that are called by the name of Christ to activate our faith in this area so that we can truly live a victorious life.  God wants to pour out His grace and His favor upon us in such a way that others see it and desire it for themselves.  It is this that is going to bring in the harvest into the last century church.