Day 123 - Grace

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 27

     

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Definitions of “grace.”  Since we rise and fall with our word definitions, it is a tragedy that so many Christians are living with an inadequate definition of “grace” that has been around for so long. 

For who knows how many years, Christians have been living with the following definition of “grace”: “God’s unmerited favor.”  That is a great thought.  But everything we have from God is “God’s unmerited favor.”  Not just “grace,” but everything.  In fact, it is what "grace" is that comprises the "everything" that makes "grace" come alive for us, and not just a definition!

Michael’s words here take us to a different perspective than millions have been aware of, and the Truth that changes Christian’s lives as much as anything!

Day 123

Grace

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, yet He gives grace to the afflicted. --Proverbs 3:34

There is much written about grace today. Not that my two cents amounts to much, but I wanted to give my definition of grace. It need not be preached, but it has been proven through the experience of many believers. 

Grace: At my point of need, God is everything to me that I thought He was not! 

Moses had spent forty years being trained to be everything that accompanied being a young man of the royal family; he was equipped to be a god, a Pharaoh. He spent another forty years in the wilderness discovering what he was not. Finally, he was prepared to lead, having realized that he was a "not." God told him what to go do, and Moses accurately responded, "I am not able." God’s response was, “What is that to Me? I AM!”

God is to me all that I am not. First I must acknowledge that I am a “not.” Next, He tells me what He is, which includes everything to me of which I might have need that I am not! I am not a good father, a good husband, a good Christian, or a good witness! This is my point of need. Grace comes and meets me at my point of need! I did not think He could be those things to me. However, as I recognize abiding, He is to me all that I thought that He was not. There is a life in me, His life, that is a good father, husband, and witness, and He is everything to me that I am not.

Look at what you are not. Do not determine to work harder, but call on the grace of God. At your point of need, He is everything to you that you thought He was not.

     (underlining is my emphasis)

There is nothing God is more willing to do than to give “grace” to those who seek Him.  Why?  Because “grace” is Him.  He gives Himself to whomever that wants Him.  Beautiful!

The walk of “grace” is the most comfortable, stress-free, beautiful life for any Christian.  Meditate on Michael’s words: “God is to me all that I am not.”  Wow!  What more could we want?!?  I don’t have to be…I get to receive.  “Grace comes and meets me at my point of need!”  Yes!  Me, a branch, abiding in The Vine, He flows through me to be all I need.  As Michael taught for so many years, just speak to the Lord and say, “Jesus, come and be my _______.”  (being a good Christian, father, husband, dad, brother, sister, friend, neighbor, employer, employee, …the list is endless!)  Those two words: “recognize abiding.”  That focus takes us to The Vine and allows His Life to flow through us.  Learn how to focus and “recognize abiding” like never before!!!

And the beauty of being a Christian is that we get to receive His being (not our having to be) any and all these things in and through us.  In East Texas right now we would shout out a big “hoooooo-boy!”  That’s our way of expressing great pleasure.  (the greater the pleasure, the more "o's" in "hoo...")

I remember hearing Michael saying these things, then being aware that “I thought ‘I’ had to be all those things…when ‘I’ couldn’t.”  I wanted Christ’s Life to become my life from then on.

What about you…can you admit you are a “not”?  Which “40 years” are you living in?  Trying to be equipped to be a person in The Royal Family, or discovering what you are not?

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point              Green – Incredible Truth             

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