Wondrous, Overwhelming, Amazing, Incredible, Extraordinary, Grace

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 18, 2025

Wondrous, Overwhelming, Amazing, Incredible, Extraordinary, Grace

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?”

Matthew 18:12

In Matthew 18, Jesus taught about our life together as the church. Jesus sees each church, each congregation as a microcosm of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is leading us to that place where our congregations reflect to the world what it is like to live under the reign of God. Like any good builder, Jesus knows that His church must be built upon a solid foundation. In Matthew 16, Jesus laid the first foundation stone for His church. He said he would build His church upon the Confession of Faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. If the first foundation stone is about Jesus, the second foundation stone is about us. The strength of this foundation stone is not so much that we are the children of God, as it is in how we became the children of God.

Jesus is not the Messiah because he did all the things the Messiah was supposed to do. Jesus is the Messiah because of the incarnation. He is God’s only begotten Son.

In a similar way, we are not the children of God because we behave the way the children of God should behave. We are the children of God because we have been forgiven of our sin by the wondrous, overwhelming, amazing, incredible, extraordinary, awesome, marvelous grace of God.

The children of God aren’t meant to shuffle around muttering “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” Our destiny is to forevermore sing, and dance and shout, and rejoice and celebrate and delight in the truth that we are the beloved of God, through and through, first, last and always, by the wondrous, overwhelming, amazing, incredible, extraordinary, awesome, marvelous grace of God.

My Takeaway: When we remember who we are, and how we got here, living together in the way Jesus described is as natural as breathing. So also is staying in the grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Your Innocence Radiates Like the Dawn

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 17, 2025

Your Innocence Radiates Like the Dawn

Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:5-6

The psalmist, an old and very wise teacher, crafted this psalm as an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Basically, the psalm is a collection of wise sayings that contrast the lives of the wicked with the lives of those who are faithful to God. The psalmist’s wisdom and experience have taught him that the spoils of the wicked are “like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither” (Psalm 37:2), but the blessings of God are eternal.

The essential message of the psalm is in verses 5-6:

“Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”

This is a very profound, yet simple, way to pattern your life. First, you commit your life to God. Second, you exercise faith in God by trusting Him with your life. Third, God will act. The psalmist is not very specific about how God will act, but the description is rather breathtaking. The psalmist is trying to describe the wonder, beauty and awe associated with being in the presence of God. The reward for faithfulness to God is being in perfect peace as you rest in the presence of your Heavenly Father. The psalmist refers to the blessing of God as, “The godly will possess the land and will live there forever” (Psalm 37:29). This means the reward is eternal.

Our culture bombards us with messages that rewards and blessings must be tangible and received here and now. But God’s blessings are His presence with us, now and forever.

My Takeaway: Because of God’s faithfulness we can sing, “The godly will possess the land and will live there forever” (Psalm 37:29), and our singing will help us stay in God’s grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

So Christ Has Truly Set Us Free

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 16, 2025

So Christ Has Truly Set Us Free

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Romans 3:23-24

In today’s passage, Paul presented two foundational principles for our quest to make the life in Christ our way of life. First, we agree with Paul; we have sinned and fallen short of God’s purpose in our life. Secondly, God so loves us, He provided His solution for our predicament. These two principles lead us into the ultimate truth of the Gospel: what is true for Jesus is true for the people of Jesus. Through my faith in the faithfulness of Jesus fulfilling his mission as God's Messiah, I become one of Jesus' people. Because Jesus is in a right relationship with God, I too am in a right relationship with God, because what is true for Jesus is true for me.

All of this is made possible through the marvelous grace of God which I receive through my faith in the faithfulness of Jesus. Christ Jesus freed us from the penalty for our sins (verse 24). Too often, Christians misinterpret ‘bad things’ coming into their lives as God punishing them for their sins. Banish the thought! Jesus has already paid the penalty for our sins!

My Takeaway: Christ has truly set us free to live in his grace for today. “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1).

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Choice

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 13, 2025

The Choice

. . . choose today whom you will serve.

Joshua 24:15 

A week ago, our church concluded a several month study of the book of Joshua. Joshua’s closing challenge to Israel came at the conclusion of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land and the division of the land for the twelve tribes. A simple way to understand the book of Joshua is that it is one miracle after another. God continually shows himself strong and faithful to his covenant with Israel.

Even so, Joshua challenged the people, “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live?” (24:15) I think his challenge is insightful to the human condition. How easy it is for us to slip away from God and form our own golden calf, something visible or tangible or more palpable to our sensibilities. There is so much we can see and touch that tempts us. The hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, puts it bluntly:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love.

My Takeaway: Joshua answered his own challenge: “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” (24:15). The hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, echoes Joshua’s words,

“here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.” 

Yes Lord, here is my heart seeking to stay in your grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Created To Be Like God

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 12, 2025

Created To Be Like God

. . . let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephesians 4:23-24 

Earlier this year, during Lent, Cheryl and I began to use the Daily Office in our morning prayers together. This routine includes several passages of scripture, confessions, intercessions, Collects and Canticles. All these forms of prayers extoll the virtues, the grace and the mercy that is our God. All of these are being used by God to help us put on our new nature. We were created to be like God and this discipline is moving us along to become truly righteous and holy. As I have noted before, sometimes it seems I am moving along toward God’s purpose for me at a snail’s pace, but nevertheless,

… we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (The Message)

My Takeaway: I have found one of the mostly difficult truths to grasp, to own, is that God cares for me. And, that I was created to be like God. It is much easier to own that I am a sinner who falls short of the glory of God. Even so, God said I was created to be like him. I choose to, by God’s grace, accept this as reality in my life. How about you?

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Created To Be Like God

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 12, 2025

Created To Be Like God

. . . let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephesians 4:23-24 

Earlier this year, during Lent, Cheryl and I began to use the Daily Office in our morning prayers together. This routine includes several passages of scripture, confessions, intercessions, Collects and Canticles. All these forms of prayers extoll the virtues, the grace and the mercy that is our God. All of these are being used by God to help us put on our new nature. We were created to be like God and this discipline is moving us along to become truly righteous and holy. As I have noted before, sometimes it seems I am moving along toward God’s purpose for me at a snail’s pace, but nevertheless,

… we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (The Message)

My Takeaway: I have found one of the mostly difficult truths to grasp, to own, is that God cares for me. And, that I was created to be like God. It is much easier to own that I am a sinner who falls short of the glory of God. Even so, God said I was created to be like him. I choose to, by God’s grace, accept this as reality in my life. How about you?

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

God Is on My Side

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 11, 2025

God Is on My Side

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 

Recently, in our morning prayers we read Psalm 56. Two verses in this Psalm always catch my attention:

8You keep track of all my sorrows.

    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

    You have recorded each one in your book.

 9bThis I know: God is on my side!

I wonder if the Apostle Peter was remembering Psalm 56 when he wrote the line in First Peter quoted above.

The bottom line is God does care for us. God is very much aware of our tears. God is most definitely for us. And, as I have noted before, if God is for us, who can stand against us?

My Takeaway: As I seek to stay in God’s grace for today, I want to be more focused on God who is for me, on God who cares for me, than on me fulfilling my own agenda. With God on my side, why do I waste time and energy worrying? 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.