Hosanna Restoration Church

I hope in this brief note to convey a picture that will help us all to walk in all that God desires for each of us. In 1 Peter 2:8 he spoke of Jesus being a stone that makes people stumble. In Isaiah 8:14 we read that “People stumble because they don’t obey what God says.” How do we do what God says and not stumble? We grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ!

The mercy grace of God brings us forgiveness and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. His mercy never comes to an end. Obviously, the mercy, power, and favor all work together to bring about all the things of God. The power and favor of God worked to bring us to understand our need of His mercy. The problem that many encounter is latching on to the mercy and thinking that God will just cover over our sins again and again. I really doubt that if we neglect the power of grace to overcome the works of enemy and resist him that we can depend on God to simply overlook our sin. This however is what some seem to believe. For their sake I hope it is the case, but even if it is; what a fruitless, powerless, and hopeless life to live.

We know that if we confess He forgives, but if we continue in sin we can come to the place where we think grace will cover everything with no need to take a look at ourselves and see what we are doing. No. We must grow in the power of Grace as well. Power grace enables us to overcome the wiles of the devil. How merciful of God to enable us this way and grant us such favor. Do you see how it all must be a part of our understanding?

The more we walk in all of His grace the more we appreciate God and desire to know Him more. This makes it much less likely for us to ignore what God says and we become more sure footed in our walk. I am not suggesting that we get beyond stumbling, but we certainly are less likely to fall.

If you ever wonder why it seems that others are experiencing more favor in their lives you may want to see how you are growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see God did us a tremendous favor in drawing us in and then answering our call for salvation. That was to be the beginning of favor. He never intended that we stop growing. He never intended that we wander around expecting mercy to save us by the skin of our teeth so to speak. Once we have received mercy we are empowered to extend it, not become so dependent on it that neglect growing up. I am glad that mercy grace is always there for me, but I do not want to be continually living in such a way that only mercy works for me. God expects us to access the power of grace so that we can experience the favor of grace in our lives and as a result reveal to the world the complete package of the power of God unto salvation. To Him be glory now and forever.