Day 228 - Rachel and Leah, Law and Grace

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 20

        

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Law and Grace, the constant battle in the Church…and in Christian’s lives.  It is truly amazing that 100 years ago most were teaching Grace.  The past 50 years most are teaching Law.  The Church is no different than the rest of humanity… can’t make up its mind about what God teaches!  In fact, the more people think and categorize and prioritize, etc., etc., etc. the more they change their minds about what was once a truth.  The Truth, however, never changes.  Just man.  Look at how simple and clearly Michael delineates truth in this short “day’s” writing.

DAY 228

Rachel and Leah, Law and Grace

So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” --Genesis 29:25-27

Grace gives what the Law promises. Hebrews 7 makes it clear that the law is set aside because of its “weakness and uselessness.” However, the Law does serve a purpose in preparing us for grace. On occasion I am confronted by those who are in opposition to teaching about the grace of the Lord Jesus for fear that it will lead to passivity. (Of course, this is the stated but never the real fear of grace, which is generally rooted in the fleshly outworking of control, insecurity, competition, and kingdom building.) However, I am not as opposed to them as they are to me, because I know that teachers of the Law are needed. The flesh of man seems to have the need to be exhausted under the Law before it will listen to grace. Grace is the last resort for the flesh, for grace fixes hope squarely on Jesus. The Law will never give what it promises. Jacob worked for the bride of love (grace). However, he did not get her and instead got the bride of Law. Work will not give love and grace, for it can only give law. When at last the bride of love was given, Jacob still had to work, but now the work flowed from love. He was not working for something but from having the bride of love, and the work did not really seem toilsome. This is a type of what God does once Law exhausts us and He then gives what Law could not obtain. We will then work, but the work will be from a position of love and grace. Again, grace gives what the Law promises. Beautiful!

I have found that the trouble for so many Christians is that they operate from a faulty definition of GRACE.  Grace is what God does for us.  Period.  Try that definition in any place in the Bible where the word “grace” appears.  That truth will change anyone’s perspective on anything and everything. And guess what…you can live in it, enjoy in it, and grow in it.  Which is something you cannot do with the typical definitions of “grace.”  Well, amen.

What’s more…it is the most relaxed and comfortable life as a Christian that one can experience.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point               Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                     936-559-5696