In Need Of Grace

Bible Reading: Luke 6:27-42

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)

Whenever we are called to be Christ-like in one aspect or another, it is an impossible task. Who can be merciful like Christ is merciful? Who can love as Christ loves? Christ loved the ungrateful and the evil. He condescended to dwell with sinners. The great Physician came to heal the sick and troubled. Out of all, He came for us, the most ungrateful and evil — selfish, ignorant, idol-worshippers. 

How can we be changed? How can we learn to love? It is only by His grace. We cling to His mercy alone. This is true for all things. Do you have sins you need to put off? Do you have holiness to put on? Are you in the dark and see no light? Has God called you unto a specific task for His kingdom? We are helpless before God and always in need of His grace. 

In Need Of Grace: The Valley Of Vision 

O LORD,

Thou knowest my great unfitness for service,

      my present deadness,

      my inability to do anything for thy glory,

      my distressing coldness of heart.

I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable,

  and loathe and abhor myself.

I am at a loss to know what thou wouldest

    have me do,

  for I feel amazingly deserted by thee,

  and sense thy presence so little;

Thou makest me possess the sins of my youth,

  and the dreadful sin of my nature,

  so that I feel all sin,

  I cannot think or act but every motion is sin.

Return again with showers of converting grace

  to a poor gospel-abusing sinner.

Help my soul to breathe after holiness,

  after a constant devotedness to thee,

  after growth in grace more abundantly every day.

O Lord, I am lost in the pursuit of this blessedness,

And am ready to sink because I fall short

    of my desire;

Help me to hold out a little longer,

  until the happy hour of deliverance comes,

  for I cannot lift my soul to thee

  if thou of thy goodness bring me not nigh.

Help me to be diffident, watchful, tender,

  lest I offend my blessed Friend

  in thought and behaviour;

I confide in thee and lean upon thee,

  and need thee at all times to assist and lead me.

O that all my distresses and apprehensions

  might prove but Christ’s school

  to make me fit for greater service

  by teaching me the great lesson of humility.