By Pastor Dale Culbertson
You don’t have to find grace. It’s been given; it’s yours.
One of the challenges people have is when they try to still live – in their minds – in the Old Testament instead of the New Testament. How? People try to live in God’s grace, but they confuse Old Testament grace with New Testament grace (and there’s a big difference).
Twenty-six times, the Old Testament talks about “finding grace.” The Hebrew definition of that phrase means “to obtain a kindness” (such as, “If I really work hard, you’ll show me a kindness”). That’s not New Testament grace; yet, some people today live under the turmoil of always trying to gain God’s favor by doing something. Here’s an Old Testament example:
“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” – GENESIS 6:8
Noah found grace and later it says that Noah was a just man. He was doing all he knew to do to be favorable to God. That’s human effort and not the grace we have today.
Mind you, there is one thing that is required by God and that is to be born again. But from that moment on, you have a life to live in joy, peace and pleasure knowing that you already have God’s favor. Because you have God’s favor, everything you do is a response back to what He has done in your life.
It’s time we learn to kiss back to God.
“It’s time we learn to kiss back to God.”
God has “kissed” us with favor; so, what should be our response? We kiss back by doing what God desires, and that’s by serving others. We have freely been given to by God; so, we should freely give to others. We want to show that same grace to others so they, too, can be challenged to change their thinking. In doing so, they may find hope in their lives and even the purpose of their existence.
“Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in time of need.” – HEBREWS 4:16 (CSB)
The throne of grace is something already given to Christians and they have access to it. We need to be able to approach that grace with confidence and assurance. Every time you pray, you should have a confidence that not only does God hear you but He’s going to answer your prayer. It’s saying in your heart, “God has something to show me to give my life more meaning and understanding, an assurance that His presence is in my life.”
When we grab hold of that, it changes how we see our relationship with Father God.
One of the first things one of my sons does when he comes to our house is to go to the refrigerator. He’s my son…he knows he has refrigerator rights. That’s the same boldness we’re supposed to have with Father God, based on our relationship with Him.
Look at prayer for instance: Prayer is not just to be an emergency plan; prayer should be a place that gives us confidence that we are in relationship with God.
We shouldn’t try to hide things from Him or be ashamed of bringing things to Him…after all, He’s omniscient and He already knows!
Recently, I did something I wasn’t really proud of. As I went into prayer, I was thinking, “Aw, I hate even having to come and talk to God about this.” Then I realized, He already knows. So, I said, “You already know and I’m not proud of it, but I need to get beyond this.” The moment I said that He said, “In My eyes, you already have.”
The moment He said that, it changed my prayer time.
God really does want a relationship with us based on the fact that He has already given us grace.
In Hebrews 4:16, the word “receive” means to “take hold of.” Mercy is sitting at the throne of grace and it’s our job to reach out and take it. It is not dispensed to us by God but it is provided; it is available all the time.
When do you need mercy? When you’ve screwed up. The moment you reach out and grab hold, it changes how you see yourself and how you see your relationship with God.
The problem is that some people still don’t see God like that; people still think we have to do something before God will smile upon us or make that mercy available. When you mess up, don’t run from God! Run to Him! He has mercy waiting for you; all He’s asking is for you to take hold of it!
The verse says, “receive mercy and grace…” That sounds like the Old Testament “find grace” (work to get) but it simply means “to get.” When I take hold of mercy, I’m going to get grace. So, what will that do? It “helps us in time of need.”
I’m going to receive God’s eagerness to use all of His ability on my behalf in my time of need!
No matter how we’ve lived in times past or perceived God’s response in times past, it’s still true.
We don’t have to find grace…it’s been given! We are under a covenant of grace, not one of law, and that changes everything.
To watch the entire message from August 9, 2020, click here.
