The Affect of Grace in a Christians Life

Taken from the Resurgence website

Powerful Mercy

God's "Common Grace" poured out on Niyah Joy

Here are a few thoughts I've had this past week as I've been studying Wayne Grudem's, "Systematic Theology"

When Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden of Eden, the human race forever became seperated from God and eternally punished (Genesis 2:17).

Thus, when human beings sin they become liable to the wrath of God and to eternal punishment, "The wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23. Therefore God's perfect justice requires one thing of sinners--that they be eternally separated from His holiness; From God Himself.

Cut off from anything good, receiving only His righteous wrath.

So the question is, why was Adam and Eve spared from immediate death? Why are any past and present day sinners spared from God's immediate wrath? How can this be possible knowing the essence of God's character? Even more so, how can God continue to give blessings to sinners who deserve only death when he knows they will never ultimately be saved through coming to know His Son Jesus Christ?

The answer: God bestows common grace.

"Common grace is the grace of God by which He gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation. The word 'common' here means something that is common to all people and is not restricted to believers or to the elect only."

So why is this mother thankful for common grace today? It is because I can see the Lord's gracious goodness poured out on my daughter in these specific ways:

She awakes with breath in her lungs... each day the sun sets and rises to shine down upon her innocent-pale face...The soft rain shower upon the land to bring her nutrients in the days to come(Matt. 5:44)...She has been given the ability and opportunity to think, create, learn, communicate, and imagine...And most significantly of all, she has been born into a home that will teach her the good news of Jesus Christ... She has been given parents who pray ultimately for her to receive saving grace.

In Niyah Joy's short lifetime, she has already experienced innumerable amounts of God's common grace. As her mother, I know this common grace poured out will not save her sinfilled soul. But I can, and will, rejoice in the hope of a sovereign God who has born this child into a family who will earnestly plead with God to awaken her spirit, unveil her scaled eyes, and soften her heart of stone to the truth of Christ and the redemption found in Him.

There is joy abundant, peace immeserable, hope everlasting knowing, if it the Lord's will, Niyah Joy will one day call upon the name of the Lord...

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

God's Grace and Settling Into Motherhood

As I reflect back on the summer one word comes to mind...Grace.

I have been the recipient of an abundant outpouring of the Lord's grace. Grace has been shown to me in rich new ways this summer as the life of Niyah Joy entered into this world three weeks earlier than expected! God's grace was with both Carey and I as we calmly welcomed her without fear or anxiousness in spite of such unexpected circumstances. During the labor and delivery I was supplied with a new discovery of grace as physical weakness brought forth a deeper revelation of God's grace to supply Christ's power in the midst of weakness.

Then He graciously continued to supply strength and comfort as we packed up our home and moved back to Wenatchee Washington within the first weeks of Niyah's life. And even now, despite of a season of 'un-settlement' as our home in being remodeled, the Lord is faithful to pour out His grace into my life to supply all that I need to fulfill the calling of wife and mother.

God's grace is so rich...Not only am I blessed with a godly husband and a precious daughter but we have entered into a gospel-centered church body. This has been another means of the Lord's grace to evidence itself in my life. The teaching is convicting, encouraging, and inspiring; and the fellowship is sweet, refreshing, and sincere. The Spirit of God is at work here in the Valley, and our little family of three is excited to be apart of His Sovereign plan through Grace Covenant Church.

As reflected on above, there is rich truth in 2 Corinthians as I walk through various seasons of life.

"But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ's power may rest on me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Praise be to God for His glorious grace that truly is sufficient,

Tarah and Niyah Joy