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1. Where is God’s grace and goodness? Matthew 6:25 tell us to not worry about our lives, that God takes care of the birds of the air and we are more important to Him. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” God sustains our lives; He is a very gracious and generous God. We enjoy life through our senses which He has given us. As Paul sat in a prison cell, he wrote to the Philippians in verses 4:11-13 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances . . . I can do everything through Him who give me strength.” Contentment doesn’t come from always getting what we want. It comes from learning to trust and thank God and developing a state of heart that is at peace even if God gives us nothing more than we already have. God challenges us to take the time to notice and train our eyes to see His grace and goodness in the ordinary details of life. God calls us to allow Him, by His grace, to lead us to serve Him and others wherever we are in life.
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Pastor Cliffe Knechtle and Youth Minister Brian Aiken leading us in prayer.
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2. Where is the forgiveness? Confession is not to feel shameful. Its purpose is to be healed by God’s grace, to be forgiven and to move out of sin and into restoration and wholeness. Jesus bled and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. When we confess, there are five things we should ask ourselves: (a) When did I sin? Specifically, what did I do and for what am I asking forgiveness? (b) Why did I sin? We sin because we don’t know the love of Christ as deeply as we should. We lack the courage to face difficult situations. (c) What are the results of my sin? It takes courage to face the pain that we have brought to God and into another person’s life. We are to be genuinely sorry and ask for forgiveness. Confession begins in remorse and ends in joy that we are forgiven. (d) Where do we go from there? Confession is repentance, not damage control. It is admitting that we did wrong and that we want to turn away from sin. God will give us the power and grace that will begin to change our hearts and cause us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. (e) Where is the joy of God’s grace? In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul writes “Rejoice in the Lord always . . . And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Joy is not based on circumstances and how people treat us but rather it comes from knowing Christ and resting in His love, power and goodness.
3. Where is our goodness? What kind of lives are we building? Do we leave behind us forgiveness or bitterness, contentment or conflict, joy or frustration, hatred or Christ’s love and His grace. As we trust and surrender to Christ and allow His grace to flow through us, He will change us so that we will leave behind us a legacy of grace, kindness, and encouragement.
Summary submitted by Karen Walsh
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