Friday, January 4, 2013

Establish Your Heart In God's Grace

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways." (Haggai 1: 7)

We have the Way, the Truth, and the Life to lead us in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3)

Another translation gets to the "heart" of the matter:

"Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Set your heart to your ways." (Youngs Literal Translation)

In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were called to settle accounts and get their lives straightened out. In the New Covenant, we receive Christ in us (Colossians 1: 27), and by his grace, our hearts are established:

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. (Hebrews 13: 9 )

This grace is based on a gift:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Our heart is established by grace, and this grace pours forth in our lives, even when we sin (Romans 5: 20), and it is all based on what Christ has done, not what we must do.

We do not save ourselves, and we believe not through our faith:

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10: 7, NIV)

This faith through God's Word accesses God's grace in our lives:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

"Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

This grace we receive by taking God at His Word, that His grace has been given to the whole world (Titus 2: 11)

We have even received a new heart because of the Holy Spirit working in us (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

You have a new heart, and this heart is established in God's grace. Rejoice!

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