Page 70 - Livin Light Issue 81

Saturday August 26 - Great grace
And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all... Acts 4:33
We have considered greatness this week – great prayer, great unity, great joy, great power, great generosity, great encouragement – together they can be summarised simply as great grace!
God’s grace was powerfully at work in the early church. That’s an interesting statement. The writer, Luke could have said that the Holy Spirit was powerfully at work, or Jesus, or the word of God... but he chose the word ‘grace’. We think of grace in terms of something we receive which we do not deserve, and that’s correct. But in our text, it is much more. It’s the life-changing impact of being a sinner undone, found out, and with one plea: “Guilty” – then receiving mercy, forgiveness, restoration and finally new citizenship.
When we cease to be aware of the enormity of salvation and the price that Jesus paid, our love begins to grow cold and our faith wanes. Dear friend, take care that you are standing on good ground – Calvary’s ground. We must ask ourselves what it is that’s at work in us? Anything other than grace must be questioned.
‘As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you”’ (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). May we not be numbered among the ‘vain-gracers’, but rather the ‘great-gracers’ – for the glory of God.
Father, ‘lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget thine agony, lest I forget thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.’ Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
August 27th - September 2nd features in the next issue of Living Light
LET US PRAY...
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
TO GOD: Father, you ordained prayer; Jesus epitomised prayer; he lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25) as does the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:27). Thank you we are being prayed for right now.
FOR THE CHURCH: Father, your son said, “My Father’s house is a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). Forgive us, Lord. May it be!
FOR THE WORLD: Lord of the harvest, we pray you will raise up labours (Matthew 9:38) for the harvest is ripe.
FOR OUR NATION: Lord Jesus, your return is imminent. Raise up men & women, filled with your Spirit, to preach the good news boldly and declare the wonders of God.
FOR OUR FRIENDS: Father, it is your will that none may perish (2 Peter 3:9) therefore I pray with confidence for...
FOR MYSELF: Please restore a zeal for prayer. Lord, teach me how to pray (Luke 11:1).
NCT PRAYER
Oh Lord, thank you that you transform our lives and renew us as we draw close to you.
AMEN.
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