To presume, to expect something with confidence; to take for granted; to suppose to be true, or come to be, without proof.
Whether it is because of the culture, my own sinful flesh, the enemy, or a mix of all three, I find myself presuming upon the grace of God. It is always more evident in the large things in life, such as graduating from college, finding a job, or getting married; yet it is often a daily occurrence in even the small things. The fact that I woke up this morning able to see and walk, taken for granted. The roof over my head or the meal I just ate, often that too is taken for granted. Yes, I may say a prayer before I eat that meal thanking the Lord for His provision, but in my heart, I have expected it. I suppose it is in the bigger things that I notice my presumption, because it has been in those things, that God has reminded me of His control, my lack of faith, and His graciousness in giving good gifts. In the big things, I've learned patience, the power of prayer, and the consequences of trying to control it myself. I've learned lessons, often the hard way because of my presumption upon His grace. And yet, I find myself forgetting how inclined I am to presume upon His grace in my life.
Recently, I have had the privilege of reading a handful of books on the Gospel; words spoken that have moved me to tears, Biblical truths that have refocused my heart, and reminders of its centrality in my life. The more that I focus on the Gospel, the more I see my undeservedness, not only of salvation, but of everything, and, the less tempted I am to presume upon the grace of God. When I see myself from a Biblical perspective, I am reminded from where I came, and from what I've been redeemed from, forever. I am blessed with the ability to see the privilege it is to take every breath, and the fact that with each breath, God's grace is sustaining me. I am humbled to know that I can sit at His feet and learn from His Word And I am motivated by the power from the Gospel, to holy-living. The Gospel reminds each of us of the danger of presumption, and that all gifts are from His loving hand- the most wonderful being salvation.
Presumption has seeped into the body of Christ, and we must battle it. We must refocus our hearts and minds each day on what is TRUE (Philippians 4:8). We must guard our minds from the cultural mindset that we deserve certain necessities or wants. We must never think that God owes us a college degree, a job, a spouse, a child, or a home. We must never base His faithfulness on ours, the two do not go hand in hand. His grace is manifested ultimately in the cross, the redemption of our souls, and then daily in our life here on earth. His grace is seen differently in each of His children's lives. From Isaiah who was asked to be faithful to preach knowing he would see no fruit from the ministry he had been called to; to Job who was challenged to exhibit trust and faith even when everything temporal had been removed from his hands, and even though He was obedient; to Mary who was asked to carry the Savior of the world knowing she would experience persecution and pain; to Noah who was asked to build a boat, never having seen rain, and enduring ridicule and mockery day after day; to the disciples who were called to make fishers of men and give up their very lives in doing so.
His grace is sufficient for each person, in the perfect way it needs to be. Never presume upon it, never take it for granted, but rather treasure it, pray for it, depend upon it for your very lives, for it is by His grace alone that you breathe.
Whether it is because of the culture, my own sinful flesh, the enemy, or a mix of all three, I find myself presuming upon the grace of God. It is always more evident in the large things in life, such as graduating from college, finding a job, or getting married; yet it is often a daily occurrence in even the small things. The fact that I woke up this morning able to see and walk, taken for granted. The roof over my head or the meal I just ate, often that too is taken for granted. Yes, I may say a prayer before I eat that meal thanking the Lord for His provision, but in my heart, I have expected it. I suppose it is in the bigger things that I notice my presumption, because it has been in those things, that God has reminded me of His control, my lack of faith, and His graciousness in giving good gifts. In the big things, I've learned patience, the power of prayer, and the consequences of trying to control it myself. I've learned lessons, often the hard way because of my presumption upon His grace. And yet, I find myself forgetting how inclined I am to presume upon His grace in my life.
Recently, I have had the privilege of reading a handful of books on the Gospel; words spoken that have moved me to tears, Biblical truths that have refocused my heart, and reminders of its centrality in my life. The more that I focus on the Gospel, the more I see my undeservedness, not only of salvation, but of everything, and, the less tempted I am to presume upon the grace of God. When I see myself from a Biblical perspective, I am reminded from where I came, and from what I've been redeemed from, forever. I am blessed with the ability to see the privilege it is to take every breath, and the fact that with each breath, God's grace is sustaining me. I am humbled to know that I can sit at His feet and learn from His Word And I am motivated by the power from the Gospel, to holy-living. The Gospel reminds each of us of the danger of presumption, and that all gifts are from His loving hand- the most wonderful being salvation.
Presumption has seeped into the body of Christ, and we must battle it. We must refocus our hearts and minds each day on what is TRUE (Philippians 4:8). We must guard our minds from the cultural mindset that we deserve certain necessities or wants. We must never think that God owes us a college degree, a job, a spouse, a child, or a home. We must never base His faithfulness on ours, the two do not go hand in hand. His grace is manifested ultimately in the cross, the redemption of our souls, and then daily in our life here on earth. His grace is seen differently in each of His children's lives. From Isaiah who was asked to be faithful to preach knowing he would see no fruit from the ministry he had been called to; to Job who was challenged to exhibit trust and faith even when everything temporal had been removed from his hands, and even though He was obedient; to Mary who was asked to carry the Savior of the world knowing she would experience persecution and pain; to Noah who was asked to build a boat, never having seen rain, and enduring ridicule and mockery day after day; to the disciples who were called to make fishers of men and give up their very lives in doing so.
His grace is sufficient for each person, in the perfect way it needs to be. Never presume upon it, never take it for granted, but rather treasure it, pray for it, depend upon it for your very lives, for it is by His grace alone that you breathe.
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