How we look at others and the world around us starts with an honest look at ourselves.
I was an orphan lost at the fall
Running away when I’d hear your call
But Father, you worked your will
We can trace our heritage back to Adam and Eve and their first act of rebellion against God. Yet you see the first acts of a Father with an eye on saving. Genesis 3:8-9 says “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Though our sins cause us to hide from God, it is clear that He still searches for us. If sin is in all of our heritages, why do we sometimes consider ourselves better than others?
I had no righteousness of my own
I had no right to draw near your throne
But Father, you loved me still
Isaiah 64:6 says “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” No matter how hard we try, our good deeds are not enough to gain us entrance into the company of a pure and holy King. If it’s not by our deeds, why do we continue to strive to earn His favor?
And in love before you laid the world’s foundation
You predestined to adopt me as your own
You have raised me so high above my station
I’m a child of God by grace and grace alone
Ephesians 1:4-6 says “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” The key phrase is “according to the purpose of His will”. Not by any action or decision on my part, but fully of His will. So why do we sometimes try so hard to make ourselves feel worthy of His love?
You left your home to seek out the lost
You knew the great and terrible cost
But Jesus, your face was set
In Luke 19:10, Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” And then in Mark 10:45, he says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus knew what it was going to take to bring us to his Father, but never faltered in that pursuit. Why do we sometimes continue to try to find our own way?
I worked my fingers down to the bone
Nothing I did could ever atone
But Jesus, you paid my debt
Galatians 2:16 says “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” We are counted righteous through faith in Christ, not by any works of our hands. Yet why do we sometimes struggle with egotism?
By your blood I have redemption and salvation
Lord, you died that I might reap what you have sown
And you rose that I might be a new creation
I am born again by grace and grace alone
Ephesians 1 continues in verses 7-10 to say, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” And 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” So why do we sometimes live like nothing has changed in our lives?
I was in darkness all of my life
I never knew the day from the night
But Spirit, you made me see
1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Pray that His Spirit will bring light to the dark areas of your life.
I swore I knew the way on my own
Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone
But Spirit, you moved in me
Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Pray that His Spirit will remove those hardened areas of your life towards others or towards God and replace them with soft hearts of love and compassion.
At your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened
On my darkened heart the light of Christ has shone
Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken
Heaven’s citizen by grace and grace alone
Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Philippians 3:17-20 says, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven…” In this time when we often find various worldly “kingdoms” vying for our allegiance, be reminded that our citizenship is elsewhere. We belong to a kingdom with one King in Christ. Pray that in all things He will help you discern His path apart from the world.
So I’ll stand in faith by grace and grace alone
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13
I will run the race by grace and grace alone
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:1-3
I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 8:12-13
I will reach the end by grace and grace alone
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
Embrace this truth at the core of your soul, and watch how the Spirit changes the way you live and move in the world around you.
Jeremy