PESSIMISM STOPS THE FLOW OF GRACE

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”—Philippians 4:8

I think that the expression, “That it is better to look at a glass half-full rather than half-empty,” aptly expresses the idea of either being an optimistic person or a pessimistic one.  Pessimistic people tend to lend toward negative ideas and see events as a foreboding of more bad things to come.  On the other hand, optimistic people see things in a more positive light and tend to believe that things will turn out alright even if they start badly.

 Many years ago, famed evangelist Rev. Oral Roberts, coined the phrase, “Something good is going to happen to you.”  Religion world-wide could not understand how someone would have the audacity to boldly declare that believers serve a good God and that He has good things for His people.  His goodness does not depend on anything that we have done or ever will do.  His goodness comes into our lives and lifts us even when others condemn us, He does not condemn.  He thinks the best of us and for us.
 
One day during Jesus’ ministry a woman was caught in adultery by the religious leaders and was brought to Jesus (John 8: 2 – 12).  There intent was not to restore the woman, or the man (who is not mentioned in this narrative although the Mosaic Law equally required punishment for him as well), but they were using her and the situation to entrap Jesus.  However, Jesus did not go along with their line of thought nor their intentions.  Rather, He did what grace does, “He stooped down and wrote on the ground.”  The woman could not run away she had nowhere to go and no one to speak for her. 
 
But someone would stoop for her.  Jesus, “Stooped down and wrote on the ground (vs. 8).”   Most people would stand up, step forward, or even walk up a stair to speak.  But not grace, instead He lend over.  He descended lower than anyone else—beneath the priest, the people, even beneath the woman.  The accusers looked down on her.  To see Jesus, they had to look down even farther. 
 
Jesus is prone to stoop.  He stooped to wash feet to embrace children.  He stooped to pull Peter out of the sea, to pray in the Garden.  He stooped before the whipping post stooped to carry the cross.  Grace is a God who stoops.  Here He stooped to write in the dust. 
 
The crowd kept demanding and answer so He stood up.  He stood not to preach, for His words were few, not for long, because he would soon stoop again.  Not to instruct his followers; he did not address them.  No, He stood on behalf of the woman.  He placed Himself between her and the lynch mob and said, “All right, stone her.  But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones.  Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust” (vs. 7-8). 

 It was not long before everyone involved in this humility were convicted and left and Jesus was left alone with the woman.  Jesus stood one final time and asked the woman, “Where are your accusers?” (v.10). 
 
What a question for us to think about, as well.  Voices of condemnation awaken us from a sense of peace and well-being.

“You are not good enough.”
“You will never make it.”
“You will never improve.”
“You failed—again.”
The voice of pessimism fills our minds.  Guilt, condemnation, error and fault finding are sent by the enemy the accuser of the brethren to remind us failure. 

 Jesus stood up for the woman and silenced her accusers, and He does the same for you.  Who shall bring a charge against god’s elect?  it is god who justifies.  who is he who condemns?  it is christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of god, who also makes intercession for us” (ROMANS 8:33 - 34).

Friend, Christ has freed us from a guilty conscience that is pessimistic which tells us that we are not good enough, we do not measure up, we do not deserve good things, or whatever negative thing the enemy whispers in your ear.  Christ has set you free.  He has stood up for you and is still standing up for you at the right hand of the Father ever living to make intercession for you. His grace is flowing to you right now through these words.  Let them come into your mind, into your heart.  Let faith arise and think on the good things that Christ has done and is doing for you. 

 Prayer—Heavenly Father thank You that Christ has stood up for me.  Today I lay aside old ideas for self-condemnation and pessimism I turn my heart towards You the author and finisher of my faith.  I boldly declare that YOU ARE A GOOD GOD AND SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME BECAUSE YOU ARE STANDING UP FOR ME, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

  

 

GOD’S GRACE RESTORES

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”—Ephesians 2:8
 
The transforming power of God’s grace is the heart of our Christian faith and the heart of our relationship with God.  Grace is the means by which God brings himself to us and restores us.  Grace is best defined as: God giving me what I need, not what I deserve.  I deserve to be punished for my sins, but in grace, God offers me forgiveness.  Through forgiveness, I am able to experience blessings upon blessing.  Grace is a fit that we accept in faith, and that is totally undeserved.  We tend to offer people conditional love; I love you, if.  But Jesus Christ offers each of us unconditional love: I love you, period!  And, when we are the recipients of such an awesome gift, our hearts are transformed and the desire of our hearts becomes helping others understand this amazing grace.  Dr. T. L. Osborn related that his older brother was transformed by the power of grace at his conversion to Christ.  Before being transformed his brother was mean and treated people badly, afterward he spoke kindly to people and treated them nicely.  Dr. T. L. wanted to experience the new birth because it made such a radically change in his brother.  Grace transforms people.
 
The apostle Paul is another example of the Lord’s power to transform an unrighteous man into an image-bearer of Jesus.
 
God changed a sinner into Christian. Paul was deeply religious before his conversion, but he relied on good works and a pious nature to gain divine acceptance.  When he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, the future apostle learned that all of his religious zeal meant nothing.  The only way for people to be acceptable before God is to receive the saving grace of Christ—He replaces our sin nature with a righteous spirit.  And even though Christians will sometimes falter and make mistakes, our heavenly Father remains patient and loving toward His children.  He uses our failures to teach us more about Himself and His ways.
God changed a servant of sin into a servant of the Lord. Paul was welcomed into the kingdom in spite of his hostility toward the church.  He had promoted blasphemy, punished believers, and cast his vote against those being put to death (Acts 26:10-11).  The lesson here is that nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
 
The Father shapes and chisels His children until they mirror His Son.  He turned one of the early church’s enemies into a wise and repentant leader. Commit to obey the Lord, and see what He will do in your life.  He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in you, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
 
I have made many mistakes in my life, and in repentance I have seen that God’s grace is always willing to receive me back in love and mercy.  We all need God.  The Apostle Paul wrote that, “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the good news about God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NCV).  Sharing the transforming grace of God with others is a sacred responsibility.  When we experience the transforming grace of God and His miraculous intervention, we should be filled with the desire to share that same wonderful reality with others.
 
Prayer—Father I thank You for Your miraculous transforming power of grace at work in my life.  I thank You that I will complete the work that You have given me to do, to share the good news of Your grace with others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.