Settling for less than what is available can be either a wise or silly decision. One would be counted wise if he refused a third piece of cake or a sixth piece of pizza. I would consider one wise it she decided against a $50,000 car in favor of one that fits within her price range. But one would be foolish if he drank from a muddied stream when a fresh spring is within walking distance. One would be foolish if he built his house in a flood plain when there is higher ground near. Likewise, one is foolish if he settles for God's common grace when abundant grace is available.
Grace can be defined as unmerited favor. The Christian believes that God has poured out grace upon humanity. God has given us an abundance of gifts--friends, family, strength, intelligence, food, water, oxygen, and free markets--and none of them are deserved. I was born into all of these and had no part in creating them. God has certainly been gracious to us. However, God's grace is poured out in unequal amounts, in the form of both common and abundant grace.
Common grace is the idea that God has given everyone talents, life, oxygen, water, and food for their enjoyment and sustenance. People can receive these gifts whether they believe in God or not. Of course God, being the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, can take these gifts away from anyone He pleases. But in His patience and mercy He seems to let us enjoy them for quite a while regardless of our inclination to believe or disbelieve, which is great, but what if there is something more?
The Christian would argue that there is more. The Christian would plead with his non-believing friend to stop building his house in the flood plain and come to the higher ground, because the Christian knows that abundant grace is available. Abundant grace is given to those who believe that Jesus Christ came to die for humanity's sins. From God's abundant grace the believer receives an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a church to share life with, and guidance for living one's life. This guidance comes in both natural and supernatural form. Supernaturally, God will give wisdom to those who ask Him. Of course, believing precedes asking. I would need to believe someone existed and is able to provide before I would ask anything of him. God, if believed in and inquired of, wants to supernaturally give guidance to those who believe in Him. However, we do not have to receive His guidance in ways we cannot touch.
In very natural terms, God's will has been passed along to us. Of course the initial revelation, through the Ten Commandments and other biblical revelations were supernatural, but God's precepts do not need to come in clouds and dreams everytime, just the first time. God can certainly send messages however He pleases but the current method of telling us what we should do seems to be His Word. We can simply hear or read and apply. What a blessing this is. Abundant grace indeed, just sitting on your bookshelf.
The choice should be really easy. Do we want to walk in the moonlight (common grace) or the Sonlight (abundant grace; misspelling intentional)? You see, we are created to receive God's grace in its abundance. We are not created to rebuild our house every other year because we keep building it in the flood plains. We are not created to keep stubbing our toe on things because we insist on walking by moonlight rather than Sonlight. We must all walk in God's abundant grace. He wants His revelation to be a guide for us--a light for our path. God the Father's most gracious act was sending His Son to live life on this earth and die for our sins. This Son came as the most full revelation God has ever granted humanity. We must, if wise, walk in His light. If a non-Christian, you must make a decision about Christ. This could help. Or this. If a Christian, you may need to take Jesus and the Bible's teachings more serious. A place to start learning about Jesus' teachings could be the Sermon on the Mount. Or maybe you need to ask God for more wisdom. Regardless of where you are, you must not settle for $20 ground beef when the filet mignon is free. Walk in the Sonlight not the moonlight.
Grace can be defined as unmerited favor. The Christian believes that God has poured out grace upon humanity. God has given us an abundance of gifts--friends, family, strength, intelligence, food, water, oxygen, and free markets--and none of them are deserved. I was born into all of these and had no part in creating them. God has certainly been gracious to us. However, God's grace is poured out in unequal amounts, in the form of both common and abundant grace.
Common grace is the idea that God has given everyone talents, life, oxygen, water, and food for their enjoyment and sustenance. People can receive these gifts whether they believe in God or not. Of course God, being the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, can take these gifts away from anyone He pleases. But in His patience and mercy He seems to let us enjoy them for quite a while regardless of our inclination to believe or disbelieve, which is great, but what if there is something more?
The Christian would argue that there is more. The Christian would plead with his non-believing friend to stop building his house in the flood plain and come to the higher ground, because the Christian knows that abundant grace is available. Abundant grace is given to those who believe that Jesus Christ came to die for humanity's sins. From God's abundant grace the believer receives an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a church to share life with, and guidance for living one's life. This guidance comes in both natural and supernatural form. Supernaturally, God will give wisdom to those who ask Him. Of course, believing precedes asking. I would need to believe someone existed and is able to provide before I would ask anything of him. God, if believed in and inquired of, wants to supernaturally give guidance to those who believe in Him. However, we do not have to receive His guidance in ways we cannot touch.
In very natural terms, God's will has been passed along to us. Of course the initial revelation, through the Ten Commandments and other biblical revelations were supernatural, but God's precepts do not need to come in clouds and dreams everytime, just the first time. God can certainly send messages however He pleases but the current method of telling us what we should do seems to be His Word. We can simply hear or read and apply. What a blessing this is. Abundant grace indeed, just sitting on your bookshelf.
The choice should be really easy. Do we want to walk in the moonlight (common grace) or the Sonlight (abundant grace; misspelling intentional)? You see, we are created to receive God's grace in its abundance. We are not created to rebuild our house every other year because we keep building it in the flood plains. We are not created to keep stubbing our toe on things because we insist on walking by moonlight rather than Sonlight. We must all walk in God's abundant grace. He wants His revelation to be a guide for us--a light for our path. God the Father's most gracious act was sending His Son to live life on this earth and die for our sins. This Son came as the most full revelation God has ever granted humanity. We must, if wise, walk in His light. If a non-Christian, you must make a decision about Christ. This could help. Or this. If a Christian, you may need to take Jesus and the Bible's teachings more serious. A place to start learning about Jesus' teachings could be the Sermon on the Mount. Or maybe you need to ask God for more wisdom. Regardless of where you are, you must not settle for $20 ground beef when the filet mignon is free. Walk in the Sonlight not the moonlight.
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