THURSDAY February 24, 2022
Abiding in the Grace of God
...because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth....
Colossians 1:5-6
Paul and Epaphras preached the Word of truth––the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Colossians came to know the grace of God. It was the preaching of the Word of truth that brought forth fruit in the lives of the believers in Colosse.
Every child of God needs to understand the grace of God. The grace of God is a free gift bestowed upon us––it is His unmerited favor. Through God’s grace actively working in our lives, it brings forth spiritual fruit. How does this happen? We continue to abide in Jesus Christ, because without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). When we abide in Christ by being in prayer and in the Word, we become fruitful Christians.
What is the evidence of spiritual fruit in the life of a Christian? Galatians 5:22-23 tells us: ...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Can you still see evidence of spiritual fruitfulness in your life?
Sometimes we tend to forget the grace and the hope that God has shown us when we first made a decision to accept and follow Christ. Reflect back to when you first accepted Jesus Christ and experienced the grace of God. Are you still abiding in Christ? It is essential to go to church, read your Bible, pray and fellowship with other believers.
Have you ever noticed the difference in the Christian life between work and fruit? A machine can do work; only a life can bear fruit.
~Andrew Murray~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
