Saving and keeping power
2021-03-121 Peter 1:5 NCV
We might be tempted to think that because our salvation is assured when we put our trust in Christ, we can just carry on living with our old habits and mindset. It might work for a while, but as grace goes deeper and God’s love and kindness sink in, He changes our hearts.
Grace nurtures obedience to God. ‘The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age’ (Titus 2:11-12 NIV).
God’s grace does more than comfort us in our troubles; it convicts us when we stray from God’s path. We need to let it convict us. If we ever start thinking, ‘I can do whatever I want because God will forgive me,’ then grace isn’t happening to us. It doesn’t give us permission to do things God wouldn’t approve of, but instead creates a resolve within us to do good and follow His will.But if we do go wrong, and confess it to God with a repentant heart, His grace means that He’ll welcome us with open arms. He’ll hold us, and He’ll hold on to our loved ones.
Do you have a friend whose faith has grown cold, or a family member who’s turned their back on God? He wants them back more than you do. Keep praying for them, and don’t give up. The truth is, we don’t always know if someone has trusted God’s grace – they may have only pretended to believe. But where someone has truly put their faith in God, grace never stops working. So today, trust God’s saving and keeping power.