WEEK 25 – DAY 4

June 24, 2021

THIS GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:1-5

Paul writes of “this grace in which we now stand.” Paul knew what standing in grace meant. He realized that only through grace could he enter the kingdom of heaven. He experienced the grace that enabled him to continue preaching the gospel after being beaten, shipwrecked, and nearly stoned to death. Grace gave him the courage to stand firm in his faith when he was too weak to stand on his own two feet. Paul had a clear understanding of grace. Martyrs throughout history have understood the concept of standing in grace. Entering an arena to be torn apart by wild beasts is not something you face in your own strength. Continuing to pray for your persecutors as they are lighting the fire beneath you at the stake is only possible through grace. Thanking your pastor for teaching you about the Lord when he is pointing the executioner’s gun at your breast in order to avoid his own execution is definite evidence of grace. (Read these and more examples in The New Foxe’s Book of Martyrs rewritten and updated by Harold J. Chadwick.) These people and many persecuted Christians around the world today understand very well the grace in which they stand. The question is: do we? Do you and I have a clue what standing in God’s grace is and what it can do in our lives? I hope so, because that grace is our power to live to the glory of God the Father. We are saved by grace. We live by grace. We must walk in grace. And we must stand firm in God’s grace.

Father, lead us to a deeper understanding of Your grace. Enable us to stand firm in the confidence of our salvation and Your total control. We surrender ourselves to You and trust You to hold us up by Your grace.