God doesn't give as the world gives (1)
Image by James Poitras on his blog {Link to https://jamespoitras.com/2013/10/15/god-gives/}
John 14:27 (NKJV)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The scripture above reveals that we have the peace of Jesus because He gave it to us. Furthermore, the statement "....not as the world gives do I give to you" reveals how He has given us His peace. Beyond that, the bolded statement exposes God's pattern of giving to us generally - He gives to us not as the world gives.
To help us appreciate this, we need to firstly understand how the world gives. It is important to note that "the world" represents a system that is contrary to what God instituted in the beginning. The world was created when Adam sinned. John 1:10 tells us the world does not know God. So when we think about the world, we think about man with his flaws, weaknesses and his 'less-than God's-standard' way of doing things. However, if you are saved, then you are not of the world (John 15:19), you know God and are of God (1 John 4:4).
So, how does the world give?
(I would discuss one for the purpose of this post; others would follow in subsequent posts)
1. You have to work for it. I am sure we can relate with a statement like "There's no free meal even in Freetown Sierra Leone". This perfectly captures the world's mentality that you have to do something to get what you want. In a lot of ways, according to the pattern of the world, this is true. I mean you have to study to pass an examination; you have to eat to get the nutrients necessary for growth and development, etc.
So, if God does not give as the world gives, then you don't have to do anything, as it were, to get anything from God. That's the essence of God's Grace! Let's think about Salvation - the foundation of Christianity - for a minute. We didn't do anything to make Jesus go to the cross to save us. We didn't ask to be saved, we didn't even know we needed to be saved, but He went to the cross and He paid the ultimate price for us.
Friends, there is no more payment needed to be made. We don't have to do anything as it were to enjoy God's wondrous grace. All that is needed is to believe and put your faith on the finished work of Christ and then you'll receive of God's abundant supply. Joseph Prince said and I quote "the essence of Grace is supply". God gives us so many wonderful gifts and all these He gives out of His abundance. You can never earn anything from God, but you can receive everything from Him by Grace. So, connect to God's grace and receive abundant supply in Jesus name. Amen!
The scripture above reveals that we have the peace of Jesus because He gave it to us. Furthermore, the statement "....not as the world gives do I give to you" reveals how He has given us His peace. Beyond that, the bolded statement exposes God's pattern of giving to us generally - He gives to us not as the world gives.
To help us appreciate this, we need to firstly understand how the world gives. It is important to note that "the world" represents a system that is contrary to what God instituted in the beginning. The world was created when Adam sinned. John 1:10 tells us the world does not know God. So when we think about the world, we think about man with his flaws, weaknesses and his 'less-than God's-standard' way of doing things. However, if you are saved, then you are not of the world (John 15:19), you know God and are of God (1 John 4:4).
So, how does the world give?
(I would discuss one for the purpose of this post; others would follow in subsequent posts)
1. You have to work for it. I am sure we can relate with a statement like "There's no free meal even in Freetown Sierra Leone". This perfectly captures the world's mentality that you have to do something to get what you want. In a lot of ways, according to the pattern of the world, this is true. I mean you have to study to pass an examination; you have to eat to get the nutrients necessary for growth and development, etc.
So, if God does not give as the world gives, then you don't have to do anything, as it were, to get anything from God. That's the essence of God's Grace! Let's think about Salvation - the foundation of Christianity - for a minute. We didn't do anything to make Jesus go to the cross to save us. We didn't ask to be saved, we didn't even know we needed to be saved, but He went to the cross and He paid the ultimate price for us.
Friends, there is no more payment needed to be made. We don't have to do anything as it were to enjoy God's wondrous grace. All that is needed is to believe and put your faith on the finished work of Christ and then you'll receive of God's abundant supply. Joseph Prince said and I quote "the essence of Grace is supply". God gives us so many wonderful gifts and all these He gives out of His abundance. You can never earn anything from God, but you can receive everything from Him by Grace. So, connect to God's grace and receive abundant supply in Jesus name. Amen!
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