“…the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” (Colossians 1:5-6)
Faith. Love. Hope. Want more of those in your life? I bet we all do! Here’s where they come from: “About which you have heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” Where do faith, love, and hope come from? The gospel. The good news of Jesus. What’s the gospel message? It’s all about God’s grace. If you want faith, love, and hope in your life, you need to understand God’s grace.
So do you understand God’s grace? Don’t answer too quickly. By nature, we have no idea what grace is. My family loves the classic movie, “Where the Red Fern Grows.” Have you seen it? Young Billy has his heart set on getting hunting dogs, and he wonders why God hasn’t given him any. So his grandpa says, “You must not be pulling your fair share. You need to meet God half-way. God doesn’t do it on his own. You start pulling your share, and God will meet you half-way.” Sound familiar? Yes! “God helps those who help themselves,” right? No. Absolutely not! That’s the opposite of grace.
Grace is God’s undeserved love. Grace is God offering us his forgiveness, not because we’ve met God half-way, but because while we were still sinners, Jesus died on the cross for us. Grace is God offering us eternal life, not because we’ve pulled our fair share, but because Jesus rose from the dead and offers heaven to all who believe in him. That’s the gospel! The message of God’s grace.
The more you understand God’s grace, the more the gospel of Jesus and what he has done for you fills your heart, you’ll start to see three things more and more in your life. Can you guess what they are? Faith. Love. Hope. By God’s grace.
Dear Lord God, your grace is so contrary to what we deserve. As we grow in our understanding of your undeserved love, fill our lives with the faith, love, and hope that spring from your gospel. Amen.
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