Let us consider our walk with the Lord: Am I being drawn or driven? If I am driven, I am under the law. My heart condemns me if I don’t read my Bible, have my set prayer times, trying to meet the needs of others, forever “doing” yet never reaching the goals I set myself, anxious over many things I have simply not let go and committed to the Lord in surrender. Luke 10:38-42 records the visit of Jesus and some of His disciples to the home of Mary and Martha in Bethany. Martha had judged her sister, Mary, for leaving her to do all the serving alone, whilst she sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him. Martha complained to the Lord but Jesus gently rebuked her, “Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her,”Luke 10:41-42. Martha was stressed in her serving and complaining, but she could have chosen “a more excellent way,” accessed the grace of God, which would have enabled her to serve sweetly, in God’s grace, and blessed her sister as she sat at Jesus’ feet listening.
On the other hand, our Lord Jesus is standing in the finished work of Calvary, arms open wide, beckoning me, calling me to His grace. He ever calls, “Come unto Me.” His grace draws me to His arms and as I surrender my plans He gives me direction. But His plan for my life is so different to mine. His will is worked through me, by Him, and is evidenced by His peace. It carries no stress or anxiety, the joy of His presence hallmarks my day, reading His word, communion in prayer are a privilege, not a duty or a box to be ticked on my “must do” list. There are reservoirs of untapped grace in Heaven available for us. When I come to Jesus I am forgiven and His enabling grace is available for my life, to do what He wants me to do. I cannot be all things to all people, but as I am rightly related to the Lord first, He will direct me to a specific need of His choosing, and give me His enabling grace and strength for the task.
Daily quieten your heart to listen for His voice……tenderly He calls you, “Come away, My beloved and learn of Me.” As you surrender your understanding, He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Hebrews 13:9 declares “….For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace.” Let us pray that our hearts be captivated by the Lord to establish His throne there, that the kingdom of God will flow out through us, fulfilling His will and divine purposes. When the Lord is ruling our hearts, the kingdom of God is established there leaving no room for judgement and criticism of others. Established speaks of something unmovable and stable, not blown about by every wind of man’s doctrine.
Only God can establish His kingdom. Our Heavenly Father, through His Holy Spirit, is ever seeking a surrendered heart and will to make a home, a dwelling place to establish His kingdom there, where He manifests His presence and rest. Our responsibility then is to be a keeper of His peace at the gates of our hearts, allowing the Lord Jesus full sway to live His life through us. We will only be conscious of His peace, but others will be the benefactors of a life lived to the glory of God, from a heart established in, and by, His grace, as His kingdom flows out through us, to the world.
GRACE – The undeserved favour of God. I love to receive it……do I also extend it to others?
