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January 15: His Incredible Grace
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did,” 1 John 2:6. Notice the word must. This verse is not a suggestion but a command. God expects us to walk as Jesus did. It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus met the needs of mankind. He healed the sick, cleansed the diseased, delivered people from bondage, opened blind eyes and deaf ears, and made the mute speak and the crippled walk, multiplied food to feed the hungry, and even raised the dead. Then He charged us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” John 20:21.
How are we supposed to do these things? Through the free gift of God’s grace! The Bible records of the early church, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all,” Acts 4:33. Why does God associate great power with great grace? Because grace is God’s power.
You may be thinking, well, John, this speaks of the apostles, and I’m not an apostle or pastor. Then let me tell you about a “regular” person. The church in Jerusalem had a restaurant, and one of the men who worked the tables was a guy named Stephen. He was not an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher. No, he waited tables for older women. Yet, the Bible declares: “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace...performed amazing miracles and signs among the people,” Acts 6:8.
How did he perform the amazing miracles if he wasn’t an apostle or pastor? Through the power of God’s grace! He did just what Jesus did, meeting the needs of mankind through the power of the free gift of grace.
This same free gift is made available to every believer. It’s yours and it’s mine. For this reason, Jesus commanded us to “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people… Believers will be given the power to perform miracles… they will place their hands on sick people, and these will get well,” Mark 16:15, 17-18. God’s Word clearly states, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [and daughters] of God,” John 1:12.
From “Relentless” by John Bevere. Pg. 40
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