Title: Received grace, keep it well
Contents
A more important issue than receiving great grace is keeping the grace you have received. God has given us little grace, so there has never been a problem. But why do we still feel the lack of grace? Because they did not keep the grace they received.
When we receive the fullness of grace, our hearts are full of joy, we seem to have overcome all iniquity, we are likely to overcome any temptation, and we seem to be able to love everyone. Sin comes back to life, old temper, pride and jealousy come back. Reading the Bible and praying are not the same as before, the zeal for evangelism is cooling down, the love is getting colder, and it is getting colder. The moments of victory are short, and the failures are long. "Sin will come again! You will fall helplessly in the test!" In the face of various problems and trials, we fall into spiritual dryness. How, then, can we maintain a life in grace?
First, it is to have time to meditate on the Word and pray every day.
Personal encounters with God must be maintained day by day. Then God can prevent our hearts from becoming hardened. Because we can repent whenever we need to. If we do not repent of what we need to repent of, our hearts begin to harden. Once our hearts are hardened, it is very difficult to restore the life of grace again. Therefore, God cleanses and renews us through daily confession of our sins and confirmation of the grace of Jesus Christ.
Second, it is to be diligent in the church life.
[Matthew 18:20] "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them."
Continuing to live in grace is not possible with determination or willpower alone. Because we are too weak to overcome the work of the evil spirit that works according to the flesh. That is why God gave us the church.
By participating in worship services and sacraments with the saints, and participating in Bible studies and various prayer meetings, we gain many spiritual benefits that cannot be obtained through personal devotional time. You will have an organic relationship with the members of the church, which is one body, and gain the power of prayer. Therefore, it is impossible to leave the church and live a normal life in grace.
Third, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit and practicing a life of service and service.
We receive grace through personal meditation and church, but we receive greater grace through service and a life of service that obeys the Word and practices it.
[Romans 12:1] “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God.”
When we give our time, talents, and materials to the Lord and serve and serve the church, the saints, and the world, God is glorified and we ourselves come to realize God's love more deeply. Of course, you must know that the most precious service is to preach the gospel. This is because all services and alms are ultimately part of the Lord's command to spread the gospel to all the earth.
That's right. Every Christian's life is a process of growth and a journey on the path of sanctification. Learning and growing spiritually does not happen automatically. Therefore, even though we have experienced grace once, we cannot continue to enjoy life in grace if we do not have a life to maintain that grace.
That's why the Apostle Paul said, "Practice to attain to godliness."