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Day 65: A Gift of Grace (SoS 1:11)

"We will make you ornaments of gold with studs of silver."

Song of Songs 1:11

In the previous lesson, it was stated that the ornament of gold and silver represents godly character and our partnership with Jesus to bring others to redemption. It is a work the Godhead does in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

In general terms, however, ornaments signify something very crucial that beautifies our lives and Christian walk: grace. So, even though, we have a part to play in the making of the ornament of silver and gold, it is ultimately a gift of grace bestowed on us as we love Him with our heart, soul, strength, and mind. They are not things we can work out for ourselves, it is that which can only be received as a reward for love.

After about three years of walking with Jesus, seeing many mind-blowing miracles, hearing Him speak both in public and private, and laying on His bosom, John said in John 1:14:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

In essence, John was saying all of Jesus' life and acts on earth can be summed into two things: grace and truth. They can't be separated.

To give man the truth which the Amplified Bible defines as being absolutely free of deception is to give a man a standard of living he has no capacity himself to attain. There are many terminologies and synonyms for truth in the Old Testament (especially the Psalms): commandments, statutes, law, instruction, etc. The truth, however, goes beyond a standard for living, it encompasses God's plans, purposes, and prophecies which many times when stated to men, are bigger than what he can achieve.

Truth without grace has a crippling effect.  It's the reason the over 600 laws Israel had couldn't make them follow God perfectly. They fell short and God had to provide a system of sacrifices to cover their sins and keep them on good terms with Him.

To give a man grace which was stated in Lesson 40 is much more than the unmerited favor or loving-kindness of God but also the power to do (according to Titus 2:11) is to give a man liberty of action. The capacity to do any and everything comes by grace, but it must be guided by a revelation of the truth. In fact, it is often received by a revelation of and not just a head knowledge of the truth. Grace without a revelation of truth leads to lawlessness.

When God speaks, He never speaks syllables strung into pleasant words, He speaks grace and truth co-mingled into one. The Bible which is the word of God is truth that releases grace. 

There is a story in 2 Kings 8, though negative, beautifully illustrates how God's word is a mixture of grace and truth. Ben-Hadad the King of Syria was sick, so he sent one of his men named Hazael to Elisha to ask if he will recover. Elisha however prophesied to Hazael a future he saw of Hazael being King of Aram and terrorizing Israel. Hazael in response said in verse 13:

"How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things?...” (New Living Translation)

Hazael however returned to his master and did not wait for him to die, he murdered him and seized the throne. The difference between the servant who was sent to the prophet and the man who returned was prophecy. An inspired utterance from the Lord full of grace and truth. I believe Hazael held on to those words as he journeyed back home. By the time he got to his master, that prophecy had transformed him.

Grace is received in three major ways:
  • Through impartation from the word of God:
    • As prophecy as we saw in the story above.
    • Spoken directly from God as seen in the story of Gideon In Judges 6
    • The written words of scripture are prophecies according to 2 Peter 1:19.
  • Through impartation by the laying on of hands - Acts 13:3 and 2 Timothy 1:16
  • By prayer: Acts 4:29-31 when the disciples prayed for boldness
No matter how grace comes, it must be
  • Stirred by prayer as Paul told Timothy to stir up his gifts in 1 Timothy 1:16
  • Sustained by the word. Paul calls God's word the word of His grace in Acts 20:32. So revelation of, meditation, and confession of scripture is important to sustain grace.
As we go through life, we must depend on the gifts of grace. They are the ornament Jesus gives to beautify us and strengthen or walk and work with Him.

PRAY WITH ME:
Dear Lord, thank you for your gifts of grace. Grant me Lord grace to live according to your standard and fulfill your plans and purposes for me through revelations of truth in Your word. Amen

REFLECT AND ACT:
  • What instructions from God, commandments of God, or prophecies seem hard and impossible for you to fulfill? Find words of grace from the Bible. Pray with, meditate on, and confess them till you receive a revelation from God that releases the grace you need.



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