Kindle Notes & Highlights
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July 21 - August 1, 2024
That’s why prayers that express an overwhelming sense of wonder over the experience of God’s grace live right next door to prayers begging God for patience and mercy.
Following takes deliberate focus, intention, and action.
But grace says that we can’t earn any more of God’s love, nor can we lose an ounce of it because of anything we’ve done or ever will do. It’s grace. It’s a gift.
when Jesus describes the Holy Spirit, he uses the word Advocate, which comes from the Greek word parakletos, meaning “one called alongside.” Jesus is describing an intimate picture of the Holy Spirit walking alongside us, calling out to us.
Forgiveness and grace are rooted in the reality of who God is. When we forgive as we have been forgiven, our character is reshaped by his.
The easy Jesus hears our prayers for grieving families and lets us go about our business. But the real Jesus messes with our hearts by asking us to act on the compassion we feel welling up inside us.
When someone’s need and your capacity to meet that need intersect, that is the moment for reaction. Sometimes this is in big ways, but most of the time it’s in small, seemingly insignificant ways throughout the day.
C. S. Lewis said that having sex outside the commitment of marriage is like trying to get “the pleasures of taste . . . by chewing things and spitting them out again.”[49] We may experience the taste, and it tastes great; but we gain nothing from it—nothing nourishing or life-giving—and thus miss the point. Our taste buds are lit up, but our stomachs are still growling.
Even if the busyness of life, the setbacks and disappointments we’ve experienced, and the humdrum of everyday living has muted the urges within us to do things that matter, we are nonetheless driven by a longing for meaning, purpose, and significance. How could we not be? We were created for glory.
Radical generosity begins with a commitment to live with our eyes open, ready to distribute some of the resources that God has freely distributed to us. I promise you this: If you’ll do it, your life will become richer. Richer in relationships. Richer in love. Richer in commitment to our generous God.
“Yes, I know about that failure. Follow me.” “Yes, I know you didn’t follow me yesterday. But today? Follow me.” “Yes, I know your life is difficult and challenging. You’re weary. I understand. Follow me. I will give you everything you need.” If Jesus didn’t give up on a man who had given up on him, he’s not giving up on you, either!
Practice mercy now so that you’ll be able to give it when it’s needed most. Practice forgiving small offenses now so that you’ll be ready to forgive the big ones when they come. Practice humility in small ways now so that when it’s really needed, you’ll respond naturally.
