“Salvation is from Christ alone,
and our acceptance of his gift must genuinely come from the
expression of faith from the heart” –Randy Frazee
expression of faith from the heart” –Randy Frazee
This
is a HUGE chapter. So big that Randy
Frazee also states that none of the other chapters will matter much unless you
embrace the truths found in this one. Salvation
is what makes us a Christian. Period.
Not what we do, although that matters greatly for our benefit, and not
what we say, though that is also important, but when we accept God’s grace,
and in faith, we believe that He is who He says He is - Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, then that’s it . . . . we’re in.
Except that we miss a lot of the benefits when we don’t move on from
there.
I’ve
been challenged by a song lately (surprise, surprise!), it’s titled “No
Longer I,” and it begins with an old hymn that says,
At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my soul rolled away
It was there, by faith, I received my sight
Now no longer I, but Christ in me.
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my soul rolled away
It was there, by faith, I received my sight
Now no longer I, but Christ in me.
If
you’re familiar with the old hymn, the last line is typically, “And now I am
happy all the day.” But, I love this change!
Here’s why . . . .
I
feel like every day I come to the crossroads of deciding who I am going to
serve. God or myself? To
declare, “Now no longer I, but Christ in me” has REALLY made me think.
What direction do I head in? Sometimes
I start down the right road, but then come to another, and veer off.
Thank goodness, there are many crossroads in life where I get the chance
to change course. But, why do I keep
running the wrong way so many times? I
think it’s just like Jeff mentioned in his sermon last week, when he said how
he knows that certain foods are bad, but it just hasn’t taken over in his
belief system. I’m a little
better in controlling my mouth with food, but I’m not better with controlling
my mouth with words. In my head, I
know that yelling at my kids (or husband!) about things they did or didn’t do
is not the best way to handle that situation.
I know that expecting things to be done in my time and in my way is not
always right nor is it even an appropriate expectation.
Sometimes I hear things come out of my mouth, and think, “why did I
just say that?” In my head, I knew I shouldn’t have, but my heart was still
struggling with letting go of self, and giving over to grace. I
know God is good. I know He is
perfect, and I know He is the One I should follow.
But, I have to daily die to myself in order to let Him lead, and that is
not easy. My prayer is that it is no
longer I, but Christ who lives in me.
Here’s
a link to the song- see if it challenges you.
If it does, make a conscious effort to look for those moments.
And, remember that when you fail (well, maybe you won’t, but I daily
do!) that it is not by anything that we do that we are saved.
That was done by the grace of God. Don’t
let one wrong turn keep you from making a right one.
The
song goes on to say,
I will run to the cross
Where you opened up my eyes
I will sing of the One, who saved me
I will bow in the place
Where Your death became my life
I will run, I will run to the cross.
I will run to the cross
Where you opened up my eyes
I will sing of the One, who saved me
I will bow in the place
Where Your death became my life
I will run, I will run to the cross.
Good
luck on your journey this week. Accept
His grace, live in faith, and run to the cross!
-Megann
-Megann
For
more:
follow on Twitter @jefflampl
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