GRACE

At the beginning of this New Year, I am asking all of those associated with Grace Church of Philly to reflect often on Psalm 67 and 2 Corinthians 9:8 and to consider memorizing these passages.

Psalm 67:1-7  May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah  2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.  3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!  4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah  5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!  6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.  7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

2 Corinthians 9:8   8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Psalm 67 lays out clearly the relationship between God’s grace and blessing on us and its effect, not only upon us, but on the nations of the world through us. 2 Corinthians 9:8 assures us of the sufficiency of God’s grace to make us adequate to do His will.

We desire that “Grace” be, not only in our name, but in our relationship with each other and our relationship with a world that needs Jesus. Grace is that bountiful favor that God shows to the undeserving because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since we have experienced God’s grace we should live and share God’s grace.

In our relationship with God we can readily come to Him as grateful, forgiven sinners who have experienced His grace. What a joyful, satisfying, confident, and restful Christianity we have when we rest in His grace.

In all our relationships with the people of God we want to live as grateful, forgiven sinners who have experienced God’s grace. What a forgiving and affirming place the church becomes when filled with grace. Family relationships and friendships are transformed when people are grace-filled.

In our relationship with a world that needs Jesus we want to faithfully share the good news of God’s grace never forgetting that we are grateful, forgiven sinners who have experienced God’s grace. What a welcoming message the gospel is when God’s grace is at the center of our lives and our conversation.

I pray that we all will keep growing in our understanding and experience of the joyful, satisfying grace of God. I pray that we will extend that grace to the church, our families, our friends, and, yes, even to our enemies. I pray that our commitment to live and share God’s grace will be used of Him to reach the world around us with the good news that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, God offers grace to the undeserving.

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On September 10, 1970 I came to understand the great love of God for me, a sinner and a rebel. That evening I received God’s forgiveness and a new life through Jesus Christ, who died in my place and rose again to offer forgiveness and new life. I have been senior pastor for over 30 years planting two churches in Buckingham, PA and Queens, NY and serving two other churches in Brooklyn, NY and Roslyn, PA. I am currently the lead pastor at Grace Church of Philly.

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