THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
Five-year-old Mikey was having his first dinner out with his parents.
At the restaurant, Mikey insisted on saying "grace."
He bowed his head and said, "Thank you God for this food, and please give us ice cream for dessert."
A discussion began to take place at the tables around them.
Most people were somewhat complimentary.
But, one man said, "That's awful! They just don't teach kids how to pray anymore."
A local pastor heard the discussion. He made a point, on his way out, to stop by the table. He told Mikey, "Son, that was a good prayer. I happen to know that ice cream is good for the soul."
Later, when Mikey's "ice-cream-surprise" arrived, he sat looking at it for a moment.
Then, he took his bowl of ice cream to the man who had made the uncomplimentary remark.
Mikey said, "Sir, I hope this will help. My soul is alreay good!"
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________SCRIPTURE_________________________________________________________
Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT__________________________________________________________
Yesterday, Ann and I had the first Sunday "off" in several months.
We went to our home church, and our pastor preached on "Grace" from Eph. 2:1-10.
When we didn't deserve it, all of us Christians received "G.R.A.C.E.:"
God's Riches At Christ's Expense!
We WERE "dead in trespasses and sin." But upon our surrender to Christ, God
"quickened" us; or made us ALIVE in His love.
And that was only the initial act of God!
For the Scripture says "..by grace ARE ye saved...."
God's grace is not only an initial act, but a constant act!
God has not only MADE us alive in Christ, but is KEEPING us alive in Christ!
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Cor 4:16)
God has "quickened us together with Christ" (Eph. 2:5).
He has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Eph. 2:6).
And the reason God has left us in this earth is that He "might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:7)
Because we ARE "his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10)
God's initial act of grace is also a continuing act of grace!
We cannot work to earn His salvation; but because of His salvation we work to SHOW His grace!
The Living Christ inside us is constantly working to show Himself through us!
Love ya,
Bruce