T H E O P H I L U S

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

– Romans 1:21

Grace is something that must run deep into our hearts and minds. The question of this matter is often “how does that work?”. But the answer to that question is one that will hardly come easy to us unless we understand that in order for God’s grace to run deep into our souls, we must begin to lay down the most difficult and most darkest stubbornness of our hearts.

It is not merely enough that we say “Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and he rose again from the dead to give me the hope for eternal life.” But rather, when we do speak of the gospel, it hones, burns, and destroys everything which is ungodly and irreverent inside of us. The destruction of Christ’s body means that our most fleshly desires of our hearts must also die on that cross. This is possibly the most painful part of the Christian journey. Is Jesus truly your hope and your dream? If he is then our pride, possessions, pain, sorrow, guilt, and shame must begin to be traded for the gospel of Jesus. Our need for revenge, ambition, wealth and prosperity also die with knowing that the redemption of salvation through Jesus Christ’s blood for us, covers all and is worth more than we could ever feel we require according to our flesh. We hold to nothing that is against the virtues of God, and cling closely to Him. Jesus is enough for you and I.

The wrath of God is not something we then take hold upon ourselves to reign on others, but rather it begins inside our own souls. It is not a spirit of condemning the human soul, but rather the conquering power of the Holy Spirit which destroys the lies and works of the enemy within hearts with the piercing strength of God’s truth, so that the fullness of his joy and freedom may shine through (Heb. 4:12).

Be conquered by God’s Grace today! May his Grace be sufficient for you, that it may bring you utmost love, joy, peace and righteousness, and the glory of God may shine exuberantly for eternity (Gal. 5:22).

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 12:7-10