THE AGES TO COME

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of
works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9)

Devotion 15 of 17

AGES IN TIME, #2

" . . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us . . . "

John the Baptist

John the Baptist vaulted from the wilderness and an ascetic existence to spiritual prominence. He was mightily used of God to prepare the way for the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world. His ministry was short, but the world is still reeling as a result of his introduction of the Lord's Christ! Jesus said of him, "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist" (Matt 11:11). This man would not have bene chosen by any earthly king, nor exalted by any religious authority. Yet the grace of God made him great. His ONLY claim to fame is his association with Jesus.

Saul of Tarsus

Though severely handicapped by misdirected zeal, Saul of Tarsus was delivered from the strictest form of religion into true spiritual liberty. This one man was given the responsibility of heralding the glad tidings to the Gentile world. He had the eagle eye of faith, penetrating areas of Divine thought never before perceived. While Jesus sent twelve Apostles to the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28; Gal 2:7), he chose only one man to be the "Apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom 22:13; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11). If you were to ask Paul why he was such a prodigious and effective laborer, he would tell you, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor 15:10). How marvelous is God's grace!

The testimony goes on!

Still, the testimony of the complete adequacy of divine grace continues. What the Law could not do, grace has done. What mere human initiative could not do, grace has done! What extensive organization could not do, grace has done! What levity and pleasure could not do, grace has done!

Those who lived under the Law had the testimony of those that lived before them; faithful men and women made equal to their challenges by the grace of God. Those under the new covenant also have examples of believers before them; people who rose above Law, appropriating the favor of God by their faith. And during this day, we also recall with joy many who have tasted of the grace of God before us. Some of them were our contemporaries. Others are known only by their works that followed them. Yet, they are all testimonies to the effectiveness and complete adequacy of the grace of God!

PRAYER POINT: Father, Thank you, in Jesus' name, for the complete adequacy of Your grace!

-- TOMORROW: SEEING THROUGH A DARK GLASS --