One of the dangers of any relationship is taking the other person for granted. Then we fail to appreciate the value of the person. Then we assume certain amenities for granted. It is bad enough when we do that with our friends of family. But sadly we also do this with Christ and the amazing grace. Lord, have mercy.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (Eph. 2: 7-10, MSG)

The gift of salvation is absolutely amazing. We are saved by grace through faith. But that does not mean that we should take it for granted. Because if we do then we cheapen God’s grace. Then we cheapen the work of Christ. Lord, have mercy.

But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything. (Eph. 2: 11-13, MSG)

It is the tendency of our sinful nature to think of ourselves that we are gods, that we have earned all the good things in our lives. But we could not be further from the truth. We are not the center of the universe. We are not the cause of goodness in our lives. And certainly we do not deserve grace. Lord, have mercy.

“This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ (Jeremiah 33:2-3, MSG)

God loves us and he wants good things for us. But we are not take his gifts for granted. We are not to break his heart. God invites us to live in a love relationship with him. God beckons us to live in his grace. God gives his best to us and we are not to cheapen it by using it for our own purposes. We are not to assume we can do whatever we please. We need to let Christ save us not only from hell but sin. Lord, have mercy.

Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. (Eph. 4: 30, MSG)

How to then live in such a way that we don’t take Christ or God’s grace for granted? It’s the very same way we stay close to God. We interact with him daily. We read his Word. We apply it into our lives. We stay in his presence. We contemplate on his overwhelming grace. We pray without ceasing. We let the Holy Spirit work in us. We focus on God not on ourselves or our problems. We obey God and follow his guidance. We celebrate God. We embrace what God is doing in our lives. We give thanks to God. We praise him forever and ever!

God made my life complete
      when I placed all the pieces before him.
   When I cleaned up my act,
      he gave me a fresh start.
   Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways;
      I haven’t taken God for granted.
   Every day I review the ways he works,
      I try not to miss a trick.
   I feel put back together,
      and I’m watching my step.
   God rewrote the text of my life
      when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
(2 Sam. 22: 21-25, MSG & Psalm 18: 20-24, MSG)

 

 

Gracious God,
We thank you and we praise you!
You alone are worthy of praise!
Thank you for your amazing gifts.
Forgive us for taking you or your grace for granted.
Change what needs to be changed
but don’t let us grieve you.
Let us always cherish you and your grace!
Fill our hearts and minds with gratitude and unending joy.
We thank you and we praise you!
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

Q4U: Have someone taken you for granted? How did that make you feel?
Have you taken Christ for granted? What made you realize you were wrong?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you keep God holy in your life!