Believe it or not, we all need a heart transplant: Our
sinful, rebellious heart, for the heart of Jesus Christ. It is not something
Obama-care will cover. It is only paid for in full by the blood of the Savior.
Our sin, our rebellion has been replaced by God’s grace. It’s a gift we do not
deserve and it’s a gift God gives not because He must, but because He wants to.
Grace has replaced sin. Outside of love, the word most commonly associated with Christianity may
be "grace." But like love, grace is harder to define than it is to
recognize when we see it in action.
Grace has often
been described as God's Riches At Christ's
Expense, and that is true.
Within those riches, the Bible identifies favor, kindness, and good will as
examples of grace, especially when it is not deserved by whoever receives the
gift. In that sense, grace can be described as God's gift of something that isn't deserved, in contrast to mercy which is God
NOT giving us something we deserve: His judgment.
God doesn't hand
us grace as we would hand an apple to a child--a business deal that is quick
and complete. Yes, it is a gift, but it’s not once-and-done. It’s the gift that
keeps on giving. It never runs out and it will never be used as a weapon. Rather,
grace is something we grow in. Because grace represents the character of God
and His infinite love and resources, His grace is never exhausted.
Grace is fully
present the day a new Christian first understands it, but that person's
appreciation and depth of understanding will be radically different decades
later.
Peter said, “18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever!
Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) This is a command not a suggestion. Growing in grace and
knowledge is the beginning of the heart transplant God desires for all of us.
How
do we know we are going through the replacement of our heart?
1. We will have an increasing desire to know Jesus more personally.
2. We will have a desire to obey God that overpowers you need to fulfill personal desires.
3. We will have a growing passion to for Christ, this is what drives us to worship.
4. We will grow in our loving acceptance of God’s plan for our life.
1. We will have an increasing desire to know Jesus more personally.
2. We will have a desire to obey God that overpowers you need to fulfill personal desires.
3. We will have a growing passion to for Christ, this is what drives us to worship.
4. We will grow in our loving acceptance of God’s plan for our life.
Ask God today to open your eyes to the depth of His gift of grace that you might grow more in it.
