In this episode of Biblical Talks, SD and Lady V discuss Luke Chapter 15. This chapter delves into the value of the lost. In fact, most of us at some point, have felt lost and unvaluable. Jesus of Nazareth used the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to convey our value to God.
Roman 5:8-11 Amplified Bible Classic Edition says:
“But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.
Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.”
Sometimes in life, we question God when things don’t turn out the way we planned. And, we can’t see how anything good can come out of a bad situation. Then we sit and wonder if God loves us.
Grace for the thorn — what does that even mean? Well, let’s first look at one of six definitions for the word ‘thorn’ on Dictionary.com. For this purpose, the following best explains the context of the word ‘thorn’ in this episode. Thus, a thorn is something that wounds, annoys, or causes discomfort.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Are you loaded down with heavy burdens that tip the scale to –MUCH too MUCH?
Do you feel as if you are carrying the weight of the world? One final question—Do you know Jesus as LORD and Savior?
In the book of Matthew chapter 11, Jesus makes a call to all those overburdened. He calls to those working hard to meet a goal that’s unattainable by the works of one’s hands.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
As believers in Jesus, we face daily challenges and testing that come like clockwork. We want life to be a cakewalk, but instead, it’s filled with temptations that reveal our weak areas.
But our weaknesses don’t define who we are in Christ, because Jesus has given us a new identity in Him.Jesus made us righteous when we chose to have faith in Him for our righteousness.
Grace, grace, grace — when you hear that word, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Well, the grace I am speaking of is the grace of God. But, why is His ‘grace’ of the utmost importance? Better yet, why should it matter to me? That my friend is an excellent question. Hence, this podcast episode, titled This is GRACE.
So, before we go any further, take a moment to look back over your life. Mainly, think about the mistakes you made, whether intentional or unintentional. No doubt, some mistakes were small, whereas others were doozies. But God had grace for it all. Moreover, His grace is available even now.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
First and foremost, there is a grace to overcome the difficult times in life. Thus, before going any further, let’s look at two definitions of grace. 1) grace is a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior, and 2) to favor or honor.
Of course, as a Christian, I am talking about the grace of God. You see, God’s grace is not earned. In fact, God gives His grace because He loves us. As a result, has made ‘grace to overcome’ readily available through His son Jesus Christ. You might ask, “But, what does Jesus have to do with grace to overcome?” Well, I am glad you want to know.
