Word for Today, Wed, 19 Jul 2000: Amazing Grace

#1 · July 19, 2000, 9:04 am

Quote from Forum Archives on July 19, 2000, 9:04 am
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

A great number of people have heard the words to the song,
Amazing Grace. It has been used in many popular venues over the
years, not just in church settings. But what do those words
really mean?

Well, just what they say - isn't that something? I can identify
with them. Why would anyone pay any particular attention to me?
Well, I'll tell you why. The God I know is a God who loves
every one and every thing He has created. Yet, at the same time,
our God is patient, not wanting any one to miss out on His love,
but never forcing Himself on anyone. More than that, God chooses
to reveal Himself to the world through people, ordinary people,
like you and like me.

Yesterday, I mentioned about the message I heard from Bill
Hybels. At one point in his message, he used the phrase "Riff
Raff" to refer to the "undesiable" class of people that often
exist in our communities. Does God love "Riff Raff", too?
Definitely!

The truth of the matter is, *I* am "Riff Raff". If you examine
your life honestly, chances are, you will discover that you, too,
are "Riff Raff". Each one of us falls short of the highest
standard in one way or another. So what makes any one of us more
or less deserving than another? I see nothing that I have ever
said or done that merits me above any other. So to me, it is
clear that it is the grace, that wonderful, unmerited favor, that
puts each one of us on a level "playing field" with God. It is
His love that draws us, nothing else.

That's more than enough for me. His grace also calls me to love
others in that same manner. Showing kindness to others does not
win any points. It is nothing more than an expression of
gratitude and obedience to the One who gave His all for you, and
for me.

Brother Brian

PCCWeb Daily
Wednesday, July 19, 2000
Today's Devotional

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind but now I see.

For approximately two months, as a Pastoral Visitor, I have been
visiting someone who is locked up at a maximum-security mental
health hospital. During my visits, I have learned a great deal!
My attitude towards these people has changed. Given enough stress
and the inability to cope with one's problems, a mental breakdown
could happen to any one of us. These people are both victims of
circumstances that have occurred during their lifetime and
children of God at the same time. The brain indeed is a very
complex piece of mass.

You may say, "How can you visit and show that you care for such
people? These people are murderers, rapists or child molesters."
"These people should be locked up for life and the key thrown
away!" or, "They should be put to death!" or "An eye for an eye!"

And yet, Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. If we are truly sorry for what we have done, God, who
is just, will forgive us our sins, whether it be murder, lying,
stealing, adultery or rape. All sin is sin.

It is by grace that we are saved; we have only to believe. My
client may never leave the hospital, as he has to serve his time
for what he has done, but he is free to receive God's grace and
the promise of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NASB)

Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace. We do not deserve it,
yet You love us so much that You gave Your only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
life.

Rosemary Hagedorn [email protected] Penetanguishene, Ontario,
Canada

Today's Canadian Bible Society Scripture Reading: Psalm
89:19-37

Today's Music: Amazing Grace.

The PCCWeb Daily Devotional on the Internet-If your e-mail reader
doesn't show links, the PrayerLine, Subscription and Feedback
features on this page, as well as a searchable archive of over
1400 past devotionals, are all accessible through
www.presbycan.ca/daily.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:[email protected]
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
The Rules Have Changed...Get Paid to Surf the Web!
www.alladvantage.com/home.asp?refid=BKU-690

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail Free email you can access from anywhere!
mail.yahoo.com/

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

A great number of people have heard the words to the song,
Amazing Grace. It has been used in many popular venues over the
years, not just in church settings. But what do those words
really mean?

Well, just what they say - isn't that something? I can identify
with them. Why would anyone pay any particular attention to me?
Well, I'll tell you why. The God I know is a God who loves
every one and every thing He has created. Yet, at the same time,
our God is patient, not wanting any one to miss out on His love,
but never forcing Himself on anyone. More than that, God chooses
to reveal Himself to the world through people, ordinary people,
like you and like me.

Yesterday, I mentioned about the message I heard from Bill
Hybels. At one point in his message, he used the phrase "Riff
Raff" to refer to the "undesiable" class of people that often
exist in our communities. Does God love "Riff Raff", too?
Definitely!

The truth of the matter is, *I* am "Riff Raff". If you examine
your life honestly, chances are, you will discover that you, too,
are "Riff Raff". Each one of us falls short of the highest
standard in one way or another. So what makes any one of us more
or less deserving than another? I see nothing that I have ever
said or done that merits me above any other. So to me, it is
clear that it is the grace, that wonderful, unmerited favor, that
puts each one of us on a level "playing field" with God. It is
His love that draws us, nothing else.

That's more than enough for me. His grace also calls me to love
others in that same manner. Showing kindness to others does not
win any points. It is nothing more than an expression of
gratitude and obedience to the One who gave His all for you, and
for me.

Brother Brian

PCCWeb Daily
Wednesday, July 19, 2000
Today's Devotional

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind but now I see.

For approximately two months, as a Pastoral Visitor, I have been
visiting someone who is locked up at a maximum-security mental
health hospital. During my visits, I have learned a great deal!
My attitude towards these people has changed. Given enough stress
and the inability to cope with one's problems, a mental breakdown
could happen to any one of us. These people are both victims of
circumstances that have occurred during their lifetime and
children of God at the same time. The brain indeed is a very
complex piece of mass.

You may say, "How can you visit and show that you care for such
people? These people are murderers, rapists or child molesters."
"These people should be locked up for life and the key thrown
away!" or, "They should be put to death!" or "An eye for an eye!"

And yet, Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. If we are truly sorry for what we have done, God, who
is just, will forgive us our sins, whether it be murder, lying,
stealing, adultery or rape. All sin is sin.

It is by grace that we are saved; we have only to believe. My
client may never leave the hospital, as he has to serve his time
for what he has done, but he is free to receive God's grace and
the promise of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NASB)

Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace. We do not deserve it,
yet You love us so much that You gave Your only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
life.

Rosemary Hagedorn [email protected] Penetanguishene, Ontario,
Canada

Today's Canadian Bible Society Scripture Reading: Psalm
89:19-37

Today's Music: Amazing Grace.

The PCCWeb Daily Devotional on the Internet-If your e-mail reader
doesn't show links, the PrayerLine, Subscription and Feedback
features on this page, as well as a searchable archive of over
1400 past devotionals, are all accessible through
http://www.presbycan.ca/daily.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:[email protected]
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
The Rules Have Changed...Get Paid to Surf the Web!
http://www.alladvantage.com/home.asp?refid=BKU-690

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail Free email you can access from anywhere!
mail.yahoo.com/