Gracious Today And Forever

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:8-9 ESV

Gracious stability...

We all want good outcomes. We want happy endings.

Jesus is going to be the same as He was. His grace, divine favor apart from performance, will ground us in that stability and strengthen us.

"But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, 'It is a ghost!' and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.' And Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus." - Matthew 14:26-29 ESV

I see this as a pure picture of momentary divine enablement and I marvel. Peter wasn't sure what was happening. I don't think he was sure that who he was seeing was Jesus but He knew that if Jesus was the one He was talking to that God would give him power to join Him on the water.

Peter's heart was getting established.

Grace doesn't give us the power to do the things we want to do. It convinces us we have access. We are set free. We are strengthened moment by moment because we know access will never be cut off. God will never reject us. Things may not go the way we want them to but Jesus will be consistent.

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." - John 4:35 ESV

"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." - Matthew 9:37-38 ESV

Jesus is the same and I believe He Is saying this today.

He is the same. Grace will strengthen us. There is power there when God asks us to join Him out on the water.

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