The question above is deliberately framed to focus, not on God’s ability to help us – which is without limit, but on our ability to receive help from him.
WE NEED GRACE!
Grace (χαρις/charis in Greek) is a very important New Testament word. It denotes first of all the undeserved favour God shows us in that:
“when we were yet without strength, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly!” Rom. 5,6
But in making us the gift of Christ, God will give us all things, according to Paul. Rom. 8,32
That must surely include giving us grace in all areas of our lives.😀
And all help from God is offered to us by grace through faith.
God certainly expects us, under his direction, to be responsible. What we can do for ourselves, God expects us to do, and to avail ourselves of his help! He expects us for example to use the gifts he has given us. He expects us to work and to plan and execute – to set goals and to work towards them.
And all this by grace – if indeed our lives are to be any different from the common stock of mankind – if they are to point others to Christ!
A MAJOR ROAD BLOCK TO RECEIVING GRACE!
There is in EACH OF US a very deep-seated idea that somehow we have to be deserving of help from God! There has to be something in us that forces God’s hand to help us, we think. We have to be able to bring something to him – bring something to the table, to show him that in fact we are deserving. Deep down, it gives us a feeling of self-worth, if we can thus barter with God. I am afraid this is the root of all sin – PRIDE!🙁
OUR WORTH COMES NOT FROM OURSELVES, OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, IT COMES FROM HIM WHO CREATED US! AND WE ARE OF MORE VALUE TO HIM THAN MANY SPARROWS, to quote Jesus (Mt. 10,31).
NO, GOD IS FREE – NOTHING IN YOU OR I, CAN FORCE HIS HAND!
HE GIVES GRACE AND HELP AND MERCY TO WHOM HE WILLS!
And he wills to give it TO ALL – REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE; WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE – if they will receive it!
THIS IS GOSPEL TRUTH!😀
And it is at once so easy, and yet so difficult for most of us to really, really, really comprehend and understand. – AND ACCEPT!
But if we can accept it, we can be helped!
YOU QUALIFY TO RECEIVE GRACE, MERCY AND DELIVERANCE FROM GOD OUR FATHER!😊👍 TRUST HIM!😊👍
LET’S RECEIVE FROM GOD!
But then there are the times of need, when we need special grace from God; special help from him, special mercy from him.
What about the time when you fall into a deep dark well, with no one to pull you out (Lk. 14,5)?
Can you be helped by God? YES, YOU CAN!😀👍YES, WE CAN!😀👍
LET’S ALL RECEIVE FROM HIM! WE NEED GRACE AND HELP IN TIME OF NEED (Heb. 4,16 – Look it up!😊) AND DELIVERANCE (Ps. 50,15; 91,14-16 – NB! Look these up!)👍
In order to have faith and confidence in receiving grace and help from God we need to HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF EVIL! HE IS GOOD! COME TO HIM WITH CONFIDENCE. He will not give you a stone if you ask for a fish! NB!! This can’t be demonstrated scientifically – IT’S A MATTER OF TRUST! Mt. 7,11. 😊👌👍
2. GOD WANTS TO HELP IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE – Psalm 50,15; Heb. 4,16 👍
3. REMEMBER: FOR GOD ALL THINGS ARE SMALL – i.e. nothing is difficult! 😊
4. HE WANTS TO HELP EACH ONE OF US!😊
5. GIVE THANKS!😀
SO LET’S ALL OF US TAKE COURAGE!👍
