img_0056.jpegEvery time we come to God in prayer we receive His grace by faith. It’s the only way to get it. Too many times we misuse the term “grace” as the “safety net” for our lack religious self-control. Yes, I said “religious.” Like it or not, having an intimate relationship with Jesus involves religion. We can not love Jesus without loving the widow and the orphan. (James 1:27) There are products that knowing His grace and walking in relationship with Christ produces in our character and behavior; the fruit of the Holy Spirit, humility, submission, charity and generosity, etc., Christ saved us by God’s grace through faith in Him. He freed us from being a slave to sin, not so we can continue sinning under the liberty of ‘grace,’ but through understanding His grace – recognizing and completing the good works He has prepared for us.

The achievement of comfort and pleasure are not benefits from the eternal perspective of the Holy Spirit. They are blessings from a generous God who prospers His righteous. However, they can also become idols of a temporal life and a hindrance to the Throne of Grace. The glory of God is the purpose of all created things. And, unless we truthfully recognize that our comfort and pleasure is solely in Him, we are sorely in need of His grace. Prayer is the way we receive it. In Hebrews 4, as Christians we are told to boldly approach the Throne of Grace. Even then, we can not enter in by our strength, but our Lord’s, who makes intercession on our behalf. Our loving God makes a way, even now through His amazing Grace, for us to draw near His awesome holiness.