Grace and the ocean

I just returned from Liberate 2014 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  Below is a picture I took. It was a great conference and you can read my notes from many of the speakers on earlier posts.  Today, I wanted to share some thoughts I had while sitting on the beach one morning about the similarities between grace and the ocean.
 
Grace is like an ocean because:
  • It is deep.  When we think we have understood its depths, there is more.
  • It is far reaching.  No matter what you have done in your past, God's grace can reach you.
  • It is free. Isn't it amazing that you can go the beach for free?  No admission fee.
  • It draws you in.  Just like the undercurrent in the ocean, God draws us.
  • It is rest. Listening to the waves is relaxing and peaceful.
  • It is unpredictable. You cannot predict the pattern of waves. You cannot predict how grace will affect a person.
  • It is bitter.  We avoid drinking it.  To those who want to live by law or control, it makes them make a bitter face.
  • It is refreshing.  The cool waters refresh you.  Grace refreshes our spirit, soul, and body.
  • It is attractive.  People love to go to the ocean. Grace attracts, Law repels.
  • It stops. The ocean stops at the shore.  Grace demands us to stop striving and trying to earn God's Love.  All we need to do is receive what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
One of my favorite quotes from One Way Love that Tullian Tchividjian repeated again was, "Christians live their lives under a banner that reads, It is finished."

What would you add?  I hope I can get back to the ocean again soon.  But more importantly I want to go deeper in understanding God's grace for me and you.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon Notes-"Transitional Thoughts"

Introduction: As I was thinking and praying about what to share during my final sermon on staff, I began to think of the transition that I am making as well as the church.   We as pastors have been consistently focused on three priorities over the last several years: prayer, worship and equip.   So, even though I may no longer be on staff in a few weeks at this church, as a member of this church I believe just as strongly that Hesston MB needs to continue to be about these priorities in the days ahead.   However, the more I prayed about it, the more I realized that to get to these priorities, we as a church also had to make some transitions so that is why I am entitling this message “Transitional Thoughts”.   Transition is defined as “the process or an instance of changing from one form, state, activity, or place to another.” Educate to Equip- Ephesians 4:11-16 ·          What is the difference?   o    To e...
Read more

You Are Blameless

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Read more