Gospel Rooted | Day by Day

 

MONDAY

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Who is God? God is gracious.

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands.” – Exodus 34:5-7a

Our God is gracious so we don’t have to prove ourselves. Let that sink in. Think of all the relationships you have had or have now where you feel you are working for approval. Have you ever felt that way with God? He is gracious. The Exodus passage above is one of the most quoted passages throughout all of the Scripture because it reveals the name and character of God. Our God is gracious. This is beautiful news. Rest in it, and rejoice in it!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Pray and adore your gracious God! What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that He is gracious and abounding in steadfast love?

Respond:

How does this truth transform your relationship with God? Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

TUESDAY

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What has He done? He has saved us by grace.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:4-10

Yesterday, we let our hearts listen to the truth that God is gracious. Today, we remember the glorious truth that we have not or cannot earn our salvation but are given life, forgiveness, and salvation freely as a gift from God. We don’t have to prove ourselves but instead get to simply trust in Jesus who saves us by grace!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you of His kindness and His saving grace?

Respond:

Rejoice that you have risen with Christ in the heavenly places and all of this by grace! Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

 

WEDNESDAY

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Who are we? We are recipients of grace!

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:17

This week we have been learning that our God is gracious, and He has saved us by grace. Today, we embrace our identity as grace recipients. Part of who we are as followers of Jesus is receivers. Before we accomplish anything, we have already received EVERYTHING freely as a gift from Jesus. We do not primarily operate out of doing, doing, doing, but we get to live out of receiving the grace of Jesus. Because our God is gracious, we have been saved by grace, and are grace recipients, we can draw near to God. In faith, we can receive His grace without the stress and anxiety of wondering if we have done enough to earn it. We are not grace earners but grace receivers! Praise be to God!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you are a recipient of His grace?

Respond:

How could your relationship with God be changed by realizing a big part of your role is to simply receive His grace? Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

THURSDAY

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How do we live? We give grace to others.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 4:8-10

This week we have meditated on the truth that God is gracious, we are saved by His grace, and therefore are recipients of grace. Today, we look to respond by giving grace to others. As recipients of grace, we realize that all we have is a gift from God to be stewarded. We use our gifts to glorify Him and give grace to others. We ask the Lord to help us love one another and give grace to one another as God has given us grace! We flee from being judgemental and making others earn our favor as we know we could never earn God’s favor but have been given it freely at Christ’s expense!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Imagine what a community would look like that embraced God’s graciousness and spread His grace to others. What would change in your life?

Respond:

How might God be inviting you to use your gifts to be a blessing to others? Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

FRIDAY

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True Gratitude: Rejoice in the Lord!

Memorization:

Once again, we will focus on the passage below as we grow in practicing thanksgiving, contentment, and celebration. It is a beautiful passage and this is a great opportunity to practice memorization.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:4-9

Today we rejoice in all the truth and promises we learned, received, heard, and saw in Jesus this week! We give thanks for the truth of God, the gospel, our new identity, and the freedom to trust and obey the One who gives life.

Thanksgiving & Adoration:

Take time today to think of all you have to thank God for and thank Him for it. Write these in your journal, pray them out loud, and praise Him for the truths that have transformed you even this week!