Lesson 10: God's Love is Gracious As He Gives Us the Ability to Obey Him

Ephesians 2:4-10 "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."

We get to Heaven purely by the grace of God. But His grace, after we are saved, deserves our closer look in this lesson. Philippians 2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

When it comes to obedience to God, it is actually God who is responsible for it. God not only gives us the desire to obey but He gives us the power to obey. You would think that someone who has freely been saved from eternal destruction in hell would naturally want to obey the person responsible for doing that, but too often we do not want to obey God. Can you imagine if God treated us like we treat Him? Here are some “what ifs”:

God could not take the time to bless us today because we did not take the time to thank Him yesterday?
God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we did not follow Him today?
God did not walk with us today because we failed to recognize it was His day?
God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
God took away the Bible tomorrow, because we would not read it today?
The door to the Church Sanctuary was closed because we did not open the door of our hearts?
God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?
God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

I am glad God does not treat us like we treat Him. We are not only saved by the grace of God, but we walk, live and breathe the grace of God every day! God’s grace can empower us to obey Him no matter the circumstances, even when it seems impossible.

"David is a blind, 77-year-old ex-convict who 22 years ago kidnapped 10-year-old Chris; shot him and left him for dead.

Although blinded in his left eye by the bullet, the boy survived. However, David escaped, and for more than two decades the case went unsolved. That is until he, his frail body bedridden in a nursing home, confessed to the crime. After learning of the confession, Chris visited David, not in anger or bitterness, but in obedience to God. He went to pray with his would-be murderer and share the good news of how Jesus had transformed his own life."

If most of us were Chris, the last thing we would want to do is to share the love of God with the person who tried to kill us. But God is not like us. Out of graciousness He not only came to save us from our sins, but He came to give us the ability to live a life that pleases Him. God wants us to obey Him by sharing His love with others, no matter who they are. Why? Because He has given us that kind of love.

Thought Question: Would you go see David? Why or why not?