Dear Veritas,
As we’re now a couple of months into the new year, trends and themes start to arise. For some, gym memberships have become extinct, while others are utilizing theirs more than they have in a long time. Diets are working well for some, while ice cream and fast food have overtaken others.
Trends and themes have also started to arise in people’s spiritual lives. Some people are further into a Bible reading plan than ever before, while others have forgotten where they’ve fallen off. Some had great desires to share the gospel with others, yet they’ve gotten caught up in civilian pursuits again (2 Timothy 2:4).
In lieu of our Rhythms series and getting back into 2 Corinthians, I’m sure some of you may feel defeated at this point. You’re feeling defeated because your desired life rhythms have already ceased, your desire for godliness has seemingly ended when you fell into temptation, or your desired missional living failed to begin because you got paralyzed by how many opportunities exist and didn’t know where to begin.
For every one of you who have fallen or failed, my prayer is that you would cling to grace. Hold tightly to the grace of God that helps you abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). Hold tightly to the grace of God that pardons you from sin (Ephesians 1:7). Hold tightly to the grace of God that empowers you for mission (2 Timothy 2:7).
In your weak failings, take a firm grip on Paul’s words to the Corinthians (that we’ll get to in a couple of months in our sermon series), “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Now, don’t hear that and abuse grace. Don’t use grace as a means to justify your sin. And don’t use it to undermine the call to holiness.
But Veritas, for the sake of Christ, boast in your weakness, run to the Lord, and depend on his grace. Fuel is available, so restart your rhythms by grace today. Forgiveness is available, so rest in Christ’s righteousness by grace today. Strength is available, so go live on mission by grace today.
Every night, the first song that I typically sing to our kids before bed is “Amazing Grace,” because I don’t ever want them to forget it. I don’t ever want them to think they’re too far from it, and I don’t ever want them to try to live without it. I have the same desire for our flock here at Veritas, so do yourself a favor and listen to that beautiful old hymn (all verses) today and remind yourself of the grace that is available to you in Christ Jesus.
- Michael