Sue O’Donnell. 26.07.20
“He said, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’.” (2 Corinthians 12 v 9)
How do we obtain this type of grace?
We embrace the Father’s will for us
According to the blessed life
And amazing sacrificial death of Jesus,
Given us, faith driven forwards for us
By the gracious Spirit of holiness.
It is by being open to the Spirit
We come to recognise love manifest,
As requested by our Father to His Son,
As promised to us in Jesus, when graced.
“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up together...” (Ephesians 2 v 4, 5, 6)
The highest intent of holy love is
Delivered and made real to appeal
Through the very same Spirit of love who graced Jesus.
The Trinity is love in full harmony,
A unity of love resulting in generous goodness.
Love is gracious because holy love transforms.
This holy love reforms radically, powerfully.
The darkness of sinfulness becomes the light of Jesus.
Evil is overcome by the victory won at the †of Jesus.
Forgiveness alters evil’s dominance, replacing by goodness.
Emptiness is no longer, fullness is the order.
“ ‘I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly’.” (John 10 v 10)
Love is grace at work continuously,
Drawing out the beauty in us, inherent when we devote to Jesus.
Grace is God’s concern as He as a Trinity,
Daily ever yearn to transform in holiness
Mankind’s nature, his heart, mind, will and conscience.
By grace we are offered all that is holy,
Worthy of our closest attention being honourable,
Predominantly good, holy in purity.
The highest intent is sent by the Spirit
Drawing our attention to the perfect holiness of Jesus.
“By faith in the person of Jesus this man has been healed and he is someone you clearly recognise.
It is by the name of Jesus and the faith that comes from knowing Him that this complete healing has been given to this man, as you can see clearly for yourselves.” (Acts 3 v 16)
Divested of His godliness temporarily, to share with us.
If this is not a glorious gift of God, I do not know what is.
The fullness of Jesus’ love for us
Sets His seal upon mankind according to
The defined stamp of the Spirit, ever gracious.
It is by the power of holy love we are changed.
Our life becomes re-arranged by the priority,
Which places within us a desire for a likeness to Jesus.
The Spirit helps us to mirror our Saviour,
The Lord of love, the Word of life, the perfectly holy One.
“...that He may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the time of celebration of all things...” (Acts 3 v 19, 20)
Graciously the Spirit works to rid us of self centredness.
The ‘Me, mine, I’, the ‘Because I deserve it’,
Is changed prayerfully, gradually that continuously,
As long as we respond to the gift of grace,
God is not merely near, He is here amongst us!
The Father with us, in Jesus, in the Spirit,
By whom we inherit godly intent meant to offer Christian service.
The Spirit is the force of this active service,
Being of course, fully linked to Jesus by the Father.
“...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2 v 2, 3)
Wisdom and truth dictate all that is virtuous,
Gracing our understanding to call on the name of Jesus.
The highest intent, heaven sent and developed,
That we see God’s power at work tirelessly, effectively,
Giving us by the Spirit, the will to live in Jesus,
Drawing upon His perfect holiness to become ours!
Every grace and blessing promised, claimed, named,
This becomes ours personally, graciously, the highest intent meant,
When by the Spirit of holiness, we cling to Jesus,
Realising reverence makes obedience essential.
“ ‘Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord Jesus...’” (Acts 3 v 19)
“To you first, God having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” (Acts 3 v 26)
It is gracious love that saves us from sins’ damnation, the final and eternal separation between You as a Trinity and us, Your family, Lord God. Praise be for grace!
Praise be for grace shaped as love, that healing love which saves us from all that is evil when we live through the Lord Jesus, heeding the Holy Spirit’s warnings, His prompts and persuasions.
Praise be for the Spirit of grace drawing our attention continuously to the highest intent, which the Lord Jesus reveals to us, the necessity to love each other as He has loved us.
Praise be for the grace of the †, victorious over sin and death as the perfect life of the Lord Jesus is sacrificed to serve as punishment for all the sins of the world.
Praise be for the grace of a fresh start, not just once, but time and time again if we sincerely repent of our mistakes and omissions in attempting to lead a holy life.
Praise be for the love of our natural family and the church, a gifted family, helping us, supporting us, encouraging us in faith to trust in and depend upon the Lord Jesus.
Praise be for the devotion of those called to ministry, the priests, pastor, vicars, leaders who help to forge and spearhead our worship through the liturgy and sacramentally.
Praise be for the very real difference made to life when we learn about You, feel we can approach You and come to depend upon You, Lord in Trinity. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,” (Isaiah 62 v 10) the Spirit
of joy supporting me.
Yes, “My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness...” (Psalm 35 v 9) all thanks to the love of the Lord Jesus,
brought to me by the Spirit of faith.
Gradually, faith becoming a journey of discovery, we come to a place where the highest intent, that of salvation, becomes the means and the message we live by, the Spirit remaining with us in Jesus.
Praise be for daily life transformed by the hope salvation gifts us, that peace of knowing we are loved and forgiven all errors. “The joy of the Lord is my strength”, (based on Nehemiah 8 v 10) now and eternally.
I ask that the highest intent of all Christians becomes an outpouring of love in response to the love You, holy Trinity, always offer us. May we ever venerate the †of our salvation. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
SANCTIFICATION
GRACE
