Tremendous Generosity

December 7, 2018

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him . . .  Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:6-10

But even though we were dead in our sins God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, gave us life together with Christ—it is, remember, by grace and not by achievement that you are saved—and has lifted us right out of the old life to take our place with him in Christ in the Heavens. Thus he shows for all time the tremendous generosity of the grace and kindness he has expressed towards us in Christ Jesus. It was nothing you could or did achieve—it was God’s gift to you. No one can pride himself upon earning the love of God. The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us. Ephesians 2:8-9 JB Phillips

The way to freedom is through the tremendous generosity of the grace and kindness God has expressed toward us in Christ Jesus. Just in these verses, think of what we learn He has done for us!

• Made us complete in Christ
• Made us alive in Christ
• Lifted us from our old life to have a relationship with Christ

What did we ever do to deserve that? NOTHING.

It was nothing you could or did achieve—it was God’s gift to you. No one can pride himself upon earning the love of God. The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us.

This is how and why we can live in victory over sin—it’s because of the tremendous generosity and reckless love of God. Rejoice with Cory Asbury’s words in his new song Reckless Love—make this your prayer of thanksgiving!

“Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me--You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me--You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me--You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me--You have been so, so kind to me”

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!