Monday Musings ...

Yesterday was another good day. We surprisingly good attendance for Labor Day weekend, thanks mainly to one family having a mini reunion. The spirit in the service was good and the congregation seemed very engaged in the whole service.

The sermon was from Romans 5:20-6:4 and asked the question "Where is the increase?" According to this scripture you have two choices for something to increase in your life, sin or grace. Which do suppose God wants to see increase in your life?

Sin is missing the mark, missing the goal that God has laid out for you, it is living for self instead of by God' Word and Will. This is obviously not God's desire. But there are those who would use the logic that God loves to forgive and man loves to sin so to make God happy we should sin more so God will be happy. Lousy logic and certainly against scripture. Evidently some were asking the question of Paul. His answer, "by no means!", he answered with emphasis.

Grace, we cannot produce grace, this comes from God to us. It is unmerited , we don't deserve it and can't earn it. G.W. Knight said, "When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes withan an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award -- yet receives such a gift anyway -- that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God." To have grace increase in our life means dying to sin and self. A crucifying of ourselves and our sin, a choice you must make for yourself. It means living in grace through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not possible on our own power. This means living according to God's Word. Not our word, but God's Word must be our guide. Not what feels good to us, but what is right according to God's Word. This means living a new life. Accepting God's forgiveness and salvation means we need to live differently, a new life as Romans 6:4 says. It is a contradiction to claim to accept and follow Christ and then live as you did before you followed Christ. We are to live for Christ not for self, which means we differently once we choose to follow Christ.

What is increasing in your life? What needs to increase?

Here's hoping you have a terrific holiday. Enjoy some rest, some special time with Christ, some family time and something off the grill.