Remember grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely, the peace of God given to the restless, the unmerited favor of God! So let’s not be swayed or tossed around by the waves of life, let’s choose to stand firm on the rock of Jesus by pursuing and choosing the truth! Let’s lean in and seek Jesus and pursue Him because we know He is absolutely free of deception.
Verse of the Day:
‘And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). ‘
John 1:14
Who do you say Jesus is? Do you believe who the Bible says Jesus is? Firstly, let’s be the dads who pursue God’s glory! Secondly, let’s be the dads who seek God’s grace and truth! Thirdly, let’s be the dads who lean into God so as not to be deceived by the tricks and lies of the devil!
God demonstrates grace:
- ‘And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves. ‘
Luke 23:34 - ‘And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life [we already possess it], and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him]. He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life. ‘
1 John 5:11-12 - ‘For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. ‘
Ephesians 2:8-9 - ‘Therefore, believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ‘
Hebrews 10:19-22 - ‘This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]. ‘
Romans 3:22-25 - ‘Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].’
Hebrews 4:16 - ‘But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” ‘
James 4:6 - ‘ “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. ‘
John 3:16-17
How can we apply today’s verse of the day and allow our lives to allow God’s grace to flow into, over, and through us?
Choosing to demonstrate the grace of God in alignment with today’s verse of the day as dads:
Show unconditional love:
As a father, you can show your children the same unconditional love that God shows us. Even when we fail, God’s love remains constant, and we should model the same to our children.
Practice forgiveness:
Just as God forgives us, we should also forgive our children and other family members. This doesn’t mean that we should overlook serious offenses, but it does mean that we should be quick to forgive and seek reconciliation.
Be patient:
Patience is an essential aspect of demonstrating God’s grace. As a dad, you should be patient with your children as they grow and develop, and you should also be patient with yourself as you strive to be the best father you can be.
Speak truth: God is the source of all truth, and as a father, you should speak truth to your children. This includes sharing the gospel message with them and teaching them what is right and wrong.
Show kindness:
Kindness is an attribute of God, and we should strive to show kindness to our children and others. This includes being compassionate and empathetic toward their needs and feelings.
Be a good listener:
Just as God listens to our prayers and concerns, we should also be good listeners to our children. This means actively listening to them when they speak and seeking to understand their perspective.
Provide guidance:
As fathers, we have a responsibility to guide our children towards the right path. This includes teaching them to make good choices and to follow God’s plan for their lives.
Encourage and motivate:
Encouragement is a powerful tool in demonstrating God’s grace. As dads, we should encourage our children to pursue their dreams and goals and motivate them to become the best version of themselves.
Model humility:
Humility is an essential aspect of demonstrating God’s grace. As fathers, we should model humility by admitting when we’re wrong and seeking forgiveness when necessary.
Pray:
Finally, as dads, we should pray for our children and family regularly. This includes praying for their well-being, their spiritual growth, and their future. Praying demonstrates our reliance on God’s grace and helps us to align our lives with His will.
