Wonderful bible study today reminding us not to judge nor lose hope on the people we think will never come to repentance and obedience and therefore will never be saved.
Paul’s story is a perfect example. He was Saul in his “B.C.” life (before Christ) when he “intensely persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13). Saul had a "but God" moment: Ephesians: 2:4 "But God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved".
My friends who knew me during my own "B.C." life asks: “what happened to you?” It’s such a wonderful question with an equally wonderful answer: “Christ happened to me!”
Just when I start thinking: I found Him for I was obedient to His word, “seek and you shall find”; I am reminded that it was not He who was lost….I was lost and He found me!
Thank you dear Lord for reminding me that your grace is a gift...not because of works so that I may not boast.
Ephesians 2:8-10 New International Version (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jeremiah 9:24
but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
2 Corinthians 10:8
So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
Galatians 6:14
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
