One day an employee was so dissatisfied with his boss, since he worked for 10 years in his organization and did not get promoted, whereas, someone who recently joined the organization got promoted. So he schedules a meeting with his boss and discusses his displeasure. While discussing the boss tells the employee that his wife needs an iPhone and whether, he can do some research to find out which one to buy. So he goes, and when he is doing his research he notices that there are different models of phone with different price range , so he comes to his boss and asks him the price range and then again he comes back and asks for colour and it goes on and on … Then the boss calls the employee who was promoted and puts the same question before him that his wife wants to buy an iPhone and if he could suggest one, so he goes does his research about the price , different range , colour, configuration and gives the list to the boss. The boss replies back to his old employee that this is called smart work.
In our professional world, we get rewards, recognition, and praise when we perform better than others. Where we have done something extra ordinary. The best example is during our annual appraisals. We are rewarded according to our performance and our work , our behaviour , our attitude , our knowledge , smart work etc.
But God’s grace works in a different way.
What is God’s grace: unmerited favor and mercy
That is unmerited favour and grace. When Adam and eve sinned, they were naked. God chose to kill an animal and used that skin to cover Adam and Eve. He showed mercy to them even though they deserved punishment but God let them Go with a promise that no one will be able to kill them.
It is unmerited , GOD DID NOT BLESS THEM OR PROVIDE FOR THEM LOOKING AT WHAT THEY DID. There was nothing, which deserved this reward but he showed grace on them.
The people of God are not the product of natural human developments but results of God’s sovereign and gracious intrusion in human history.
He chose Jacob over Esau. As per our understanding it should be ESAU, because the first born gets all the blessings. And also he was more skilled than Jacob. Isaac took Esau to train him, make him a warrior.
But God chose Jacob even before he was born.
He chose his disciples who were ordinary men, who took time to understand simple Parables. Few of them were fishermen not well educated like others. They were not the people who knew in and out of Torah .
He chose a shepherd boy David instead of his brothers, who were already in Saul’s Army.
It is unmerited, none of them deserved to be in the place where they were, and even to us, it is unmerited, where we are today.
Therefore, the Grace of God is unmerited favour and mercy.
Today we are going to look at, how we are going to depend on this Grace?
What does it mean to depend on God’s Grace?
Before that can we look at, how can we, not depend on the Grace of God?
When we look at others, we become like them: We live in a competitive world and we see others are climbing the ladder faster than us, using their ways or means and we want to use the same method which works or has worked for them. It’s like this, if I don’t follow that, I will be left behind.
It’s tempting to follow the ways of the world and achieve it . This is the only way it will work.
Self Efforts : Efforts more than Grace . Efforts can earn Favor. Many times we quote this “that the battle is ours but the victory comes from the Lord and we need to BE PREPARED for the battle”.
So while preparing , we become panic , frustrated when our efforts go in vain. Many times we regret because of our efforts which did not produce fruit.
In 1 Samuel 17 :47
47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Take it granted : It is the other way around where we always say that God will help. We take it granted and we don’t even try.
How to I depend on his Grace
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10
Acknowledge : I AM WHAT I AM only by Grace. Its God’s favour and mercy in my life. Acknowledge when we have tasted success. Its not me but God.
Trust God : We need to trust God that his favour will rest upon us. Trust in his promises
if we are a child of God, the problem is not you, it’s not about depending upon yourself, but learning to patiently depend upon God’s grace.
How can we completely forget the Grace of God
Pride can be a major factor where we can completely miss the Grace of God.
There is an attitude called “I deserved it” which does not come out upright. But there is a subtle feeling. Which develops over a period of time and that can be deceptive.
Lucifer was overthrown from heaven because of pride. He thought, he can become God. A feeling ‘I deserve it’. I am better.
It can happen at workplace, at Church, where we look at the other person and say to us that ‘I am better’.
Why I am sharing this is because, this is what we are always going to see at churches, workplaces.
As we have observed earlier, God does not place people and give position as per human standards. It is all because of his grace. (Unmerited favour and mercy)
Most of the time we will see ourselves better than others. so Humble ourselves.
The best example is when we look at the cross. God sent his only son for all of us. It is amazing Grace. We can depend on this Grace forever.
Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the New Hope Community. The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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