Grace for Grace

John 1:6: ¶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:7: The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John 1:8: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John 1:9: That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 1:10: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 1:11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:15: ¶John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John 1:16: And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
John 1:17: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

I thank You, God the Father, for sending Your Son, that through Him we can be reconciled with God. Thank you for sending and sacrificing Your Son for a sinner like me. Thank You for Your Love.

I was not born again, because of any act of my own, but of God. Hence, if God knew what He was dealing with, He also would have figured out how to deal with me. I can be changed, I can be reformed, I am a NEW CREATION. I can shout out and say with all confidence in God, that I AM A NEW CREATION.

I like the way Mathew Henry's Commentary elaborates grace for grace.

1. grace for grace sake - Since Christ was full of grace, for Christ sake we recieved teh fulness of grace.
2. grace upon grace - It's a fountain of grace, it flows, it overflows.
   
3. grace for gracious acts & gracious habits - Grace to exercise grace and minister grace to others.
4. grace to improve, confirm, and perfect another grace - We are changed into the divine image, from glory to glory, from one degree of glorious grace to another.
5. grace in us to live according to the grace in Him

Just as I am, no pride, but humble; I come to You. Cleanse me and make me whole. You have always given me more than I can ever have. Yet I went after things that never quenched my thirst. Many times I still go after such. Break me Lord, let me not run away. Why do I run? I want to love You, with all my heart. What is it that happens to me when You try to mold me? Why do I run? I know it is You, still I chose not to acknowledge You. Help me! Lord help!

John 1:1-5

John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
A word is an expression. Christ is an expression of God. When God wants us to be in the image of Jesus, it is same as I am a word of God, an expression of God. Help me Lord & forgive me for I have sinned. I have missed the mark. Help to be the word you want me to be.

John 1:2: The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
As a word in a sentence, para or book; so am I a part of His great plan from the beginning. Lord, give me grace to live according to Your will. Not my will but Thy will be done. "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown". It is possible to loose your crown or deviate from God's plan. Lord, I cannot comprehend the ultimate picture, yet I ask You to help me, to live according to Your will. Admonish me when I go stray! Let me be diligent to seek Your will and live according Your will. Let me be obedient to Your word. Let me not disrespect You by disobeying You.

John 1:4: In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:5: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Imagine you are a candle. A candle gives forth light. This light is the life of Jesus. Not only are you living in the footsteps of Jesus, but also showing others the life of Jesus. When people see this light shining, they cannot understand, the cannot experience the very same life or quality of life. They cannot mimic this life. Through Christ alone there is redemption. Lord, I am timid of showing this light to the Lord. Moreover, I am like the candle under a basket. Let this life that You have redeemed shine forth Your life, Your love. Enable me to carry my cross, let me not hide from it but let my love You so much that I sit under Your throne and seek grace and carry the yoke along with my Lord and Savior. Help me! Help me! I don't ask for gold or silver, only your grace. Thank you for giving it to me. Great is my God, Praise His holy name.

I threw my oars b'cus my boat was dirty

Ridiculous right! Who would such a thing? Well, I did! I stayed there in the raging waters, because my life was not right with God. I stayed in my sin and continued to sin. Till this very day, I shut down myself when I am to much in sin and feel wretched about myself. Even more wretched is the fact that I go back to God when I need some personal favor or when I feel my boat stinks and I can't stay in it anymore. This used to be my routine.

Then one day when it hit me that I don't live for myself or to approve myself in my own eyes. I live for the glory of God. If there are habitual sin in my life, give it to God and God will deal with it. There are so many other things in my life which God can glorify Himself. My sins are not all that I have - I have a great job, good amount of time, lots of resources, good friends, loving family and love for God. Come on, one can do some many things without shutting down.

Lord, when I feel wretch about myself let me not throw away the Joy of Salvation (Oars). Let me be confident in a God who is still not finished with me and is molding continuously in His image. For I know You have not given up on me. Why should I ever give up on God and on myself? Thank You, for this word of knowledge. Amen!

Bring me Home

After many days of doing things what I considered important or that which could satisfy me - I gave it all ! I have sinned.

Am I going back to God for a reason of my own? Am I being wretchedly selfish and seeking God for my own means? Well, who am I fooling - I know I am a hypocrite and serious I don't know the answers for these questions. All I ask is, "God, if it is true that I am coming to you for a reason - Change me, Break Me, Mould me". Give me grace when you heal me, that I may submit and not withhold your love for me.

It is true that I need your help, but Lord I don't want be a guy who takes liberty to sin with your mercy and grace.

Bring me Home, I long for your fellowship. I am waiting for you. Restore in me the joy of your salvation.