God’s Grace, Part 1 — A ‘Time With God’ Audio Devotion

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Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection…

Philippians 3:1-10b

Transcript

Good morning. I’m John North, and as we begin this new work week, we want to start it by listening to God. What better way to start your day than taking some time with God.

There’s nothing more important in your life than your regular time with God.

Don’t get legalistic about it. Don’t condemn someone if they didn’t have a quiet time, as we call it, today. Or don’t condemn yourself, but rather make it your practise to take time with God. What makes it so effective in your life is not the fact that you tick the box that yes, you had some time in God’s word today, no. What makes it effective in your life is if you treat it relationally. This is your special time with your most important friend, who is also the most important person in this entire universe.

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God wants you to know Him. He wants to reveal Himself to you. He knows you intimately, and He wants to walk with you through life. Spend time with Him.

We’re talking this week about God’s grace in our lives.

Listen to what Paul says when he writes to the Philippians in chapter 3 of his letter to them in the Bible.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Beware of the dogs. Beware of the evil workers. Beware of the false circumcision, for we are the true circumcision, and by circumcision he means the people of God. We are the true people of God who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, that is in our own abilities.

Although I myself might have confidence in the flesh, if anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I’m far more. Circumcised the 8th day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law of Pharisee, one of the most committed religious leaders of the day, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church. As to the righteousness which is in the law found blameless.

Paul had a lot to be proud of spiritually, but listen to what he says. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law.

But that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and he goes on.

Do you know something, every person in the world has offended God. Some people are much nicer people than others, much better people than others, but even they have secret sins, ways they’ve offended God and broken His laws. Every one of us faces God’s eternal judgement and God’s anger.

And we cannot be righteous enough for God.

But Paul says we can be found in Christ not having a righteousness of our own derived from the law by trying to be good enough, that is, by keeping God’s laws. But the righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, Jesus Christ died, and in that was done a spiritual exchange.

He took your sinfulness and took God’s judgement on Himself so that you could receive His righteousness and become a child of God.

You simply need to turn to God and say thank you for what you have done for me. I receive the forgiveness offered to me because of what Christ has done. Please enter into my life and change it.

God’s response to that will always be yes.

Because God is full of grace.

I’m John North.

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