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Saturday Devotional
March 28, 2020
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9
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Devotional

Grace for all, Grace in all is one of John Wesley’s most descriptive phrases. In a book study I am a member of we talked in depth about Grace.

William Willimon states in his book Why I am a United Methodist that after a lifetime of relentless effort to get close to God, John Wesley came to the realization that God had already come close to him and was waiting for him to embrace him. Grace. You see, Grace covers the entirety of life: it creates, redeems, sustains, sanctifies and glorifies. Wesley encouraged people to respond to God’s gift of Grace in Jesus Christ over the ways of the world and then to live out that choice in our daily lives.

Prevenient Grace—is the belief that from the beginning of a life that God is busy at work. It may precede any direct consciousness of God.

Justifying Grace—is that awakening, that “new birth” to one’s salvation, the initial life changing experience that sets us on the road to God. John Wesley experienced this at Aldersgate. That experience gave him “an assurance” that he was saved, loved, forgiven, elected, and cherished by the love of God.

Sanctifying Grace—is that continuing presence of God’s work in our lives after our conversion. Wesley used the term “Christian perfection” and “sanctification” interchangeably. It’s sometimes called a “second work of grace” or a “second blessing.” When he used the term “Christian perfection,” he did not mean moral flawlessness or utter sinlessness. He meant perfection in the sense of maturity. By God’s Grace we can make progress.

Paul says, “When I was a child, I thought, I spoke, I acted like a Child. When I became an adult, I put away childish ways.” Through Grace, God is busy working on all of us. Even when we aren’t exactly at our best!
Prayer

Lord, it is through Your gift of Grace that we all are sustained. We pray that You strengthen and guide us as we continue on our faith journey and strive for that sanctification You have planned for all. We give thanks for the Grace that John Wesley realized and how it has shaped our faith for all these years. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
-  Contributed by Kerry Perez  -

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