There is no greater comfort than that of being rescued from a situation that — from all perspectives — seems hopelessly lost.  When we’ve run out of human options and answers, it’s usually then that we seem ready to turn to God for a final solution.  What we sometimes don’t consider are the actions we took which placed us deep within that hopeless condition.  Perhaps there were times when — had we been more attentive to the voice of God leading us and guiding us away from those times of danger — that we would have found ourselves on less shaky ground.  But being who we are, those issues that would have us compromise ourselves and our faith seem so tantalizing.  And so, we bite the proverbial apple not once — but over and over again until we find ourselves in the deep torrential waters of life.  Unable to swim, it’s then that our cries scream out to God to come and save us.  And what is God’s response?  God’s love for us is so great that our death would be painful — even to God — to allow us to be harmed in such a way.  It is then that God shows up and saves us and we know from experience that our cries have been heard.  We are at one and the same time both astounded and relieved.  Knowing that God and God alone has saved us is one thing.  Telling others about is a sacrifice of praise.  It tells others how faithless we were and glorifies God for God’s faithfulness.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious God, enable and empower me to have the courage to tell of Your mercy to me when I was helpless as a return to You a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

         Some people are just nice people.  They do things for you without thinking about it or without expecting anything in return. Ideally, that is how life should be.  We should do things for people — sometimes because they ask us to, but mostly because we’re motivated to  do it out of a spirit of love and kindness.  However, our lives are complicated.  There are times when we find ourselves in an shaky situation and can’t make ends meet or can’t connect the dots (you choose your own metaphor).   If someone steps in to rescue us because we’re unable to save ourselves, then what is an appropriate response?  Various cultures dictate what the appropriate response should be.  In one culture, if someone saves your life, then you essentially owe your life to them in eternal service.  But if the One who saved your life is God, there may be another response that comes out of a relationship filled with gratitude and devotion to God.  In reality, what else could you do for God that would meet God’s needs — as if God had any needs that we could meet.  On the other hand, what God seeks is recognition, praise and gratitude for the blessings we’ve received and faithfulness in relationship because of God’s faithfulness to us.  For many of us that comes with a duty of sacrifice.  In fact, the first obligation required of Christian discipleship is to “deny yourself” — or to make of ourselves a living sacrifice.  Our salvation comes because God has looked upon us and pitied our condition.  Perhaps all God expects is that we return to God the thanksgiving, honor, praise, glory, faithfulness, devotion, and service that God has shown us in our time of desperation.  One sure way we could truly repay God for God’s goodness to us is by making a sacrifice of praise.  That’s all God requires.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious and merciful God, You listened when I cried out to You for mercy. Grant that my life may become a sacrifice of praise and that by my words, actions, and thanksgiving, I give witness to Your mercy and love each day.

         Phillip Yancey wrote a book titled, “What’s So Amazing about Grace?” in which he recounted a story about C. S. Lewis.  He wrote:

       During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith.

       They began eliminating possibilities.  Incarnation?  Other religions had different versions of God appearing in human form.  Resurrection?  Again, other religions had accounts of return from death.

       The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis walked into the room.  “What’s the rumpus about? he asked and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy.  It’s grace.”  After some discussion, the conferees had to agree.

       The idea of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity.  The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of Karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law — each of these offers a way to earn approval.  Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.

         How wonderful the gift of God that doesn’t require anything from us to meet God’s approval.  That God first loved us and now only asks that we be led to God’s grace through our faith is the east complicated, least burdensome answer to eternal life.  And it was all initiated by God through a promise to Abraham who found God’s favor credited to him because of his faith.  Amazing grace indeed that saves us all by faith.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious God, I’m eternally grateful for the faith that leads me to Your grace through a promise made by you. It is Your grace and faithfulness that keeps my faith and my hope alive.