God Knows Our Name

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

May 21, 2025

God Knows Our Name

Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Isaiah 49:15-16a 

These are the opening lyrics of Charity Gayle’s song, New Name Written Down in Glory.

I was lost in shame, could not get past my blame

Until He called my name

I'm so glad He changed me

Darkness held me down, but Jesus pulled me out

And I'm no longer bound

I'm so glad He changed me

 

See, I'm now a new creation in Christ (yeah)

The old has gone, there's new life

I live by faith, not by sight

There is a new name written down in glory

And it's mine, yes, it's mine

I've met the Author of my story

And He's mine, yes, He's mine

On April 23, I noted, “As God’s new creation, we have become friends of God.” I wish for this principle to be profoundly ingrained within me and guide every thought and action in my life. Today’s scripture adds to this truth; we are friends of God. He knows our name!

I recently read Murphy Shepherd by Charles Martin, about a hero who rescues children from traffickers. He has over two hundred names tattooed on his back, remembering each child. Our Heavenly Father has the name of every one of his rescued and redeemed children engraved on the palms of His hands.

My Takeaway: When life is not falling our way, let us take a break and remember God called us by name! God has our name engraved on his palm. I know this will help us stay 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.

Our Real Life

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

May 20, 2025

Our Real Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 

Our passage for today highlights what I believe is the most significant difference between the followers of Jesus and the followers of every other religion. Basically, all the other religions are DIY: Do-It-Yourself. The Judaizers had been encouraging the church in Colossae to follow rules to establish and maintain their relationship with God. Paul taught the church that such rule keeping may look good on the outside, but “they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires” (Colossians 2:23).

Where other religions teach their followers how to try and make themselves fit to meet their god, Jesus brings his followers into a right relationship with God. Because the problem of sin is a spiritual problem, it requires a spiritual answer, which is beyond our human capacity. God’s solution to the problem of sin is to do for us that we cannot do for ourselves: “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3). Here Paul is reemphasizing the point he made in 2:12, “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life.”

My Takeaway: We have died with Christ, we are now alive in Christ, and Christ has set us free from the spiritual powers of this world. Our mission is to stay in this grace each day. Colossians 3:1-2 help us in our mission:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” 

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 for Me

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

May 19, 2025

God Is for Me

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Romans 8:31 

You may recall that I recently cited this verse on May 5 and 6. I am coming back to this verse again because it is one, I need to hear often.

Recently I was looking at that line in one of my favorite prayers, “I am not my own, I am thine. By creation and redemption, I am thine.” This affirmation guides me daily as I seek to make the life in Christ my way of life. That simple line can settle every debate within my soul – I belong to God. By creation and redemption, I belong to God. In life, my goal is to cooperate fully with God’s sanctifying grace as He works to form Christ in me, His beloved child with whom He is well pleased and upon whom His favor rests.

However, it is much easier for me to write these affirmations than it is to work them out, day by day, in my life. Too often, my fears, my worries do not testify that I truly believe, and act on, the affirmation that I belong to God. God’s work to form Christ in me is indeed a work in progress, and sometimes it feels as though my progress is at a snail’s pace.

My true confession this morning brings me back to verse 31. I’m not going to beat myself up and have a pity party, because I know God is for me. And there is more.

My Takeaway: Because God is for me, all those fears and worries and times I have fallen short, CANNOT stand against me. BECAUSE GOD IS FOR ME. (And 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.

This Isn’t Home. Yet.

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

May 16, 2025

This Isn’t Home. Yet.

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. 

I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

John 15:19 

In two weeks, we will mark our thirteenth anniversary of moving from Florida to Western North Carolina. Six months later we had purchased and moved into our home. This was a super big deal for us. We had lived together in church parsonages all our married life. Now we have our own home. Seldom a week goes by without me telling Cheryl, “I love our home!” That phrase has become more poignant in recent months as we are contemplating the need to downsize and move, perhaps to a retirement community in two or three years.

The Apostle Paul embraced Jesus’ statement quoted above we he wrote, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” (Philippians 3:20) Some have commented on this verse and noted that we are sojourners now, resident aliens, but our citizenship is in heaven with Jesus. Some even have gone so far as to say this, our earthly experience, is not our home. Well, not exactly. Our citizenship is with Jesus, so where Jesus is, is our home. As Paul noted, “. . . we are eagerly waiting for him to return . . .” We may die and go to Jesus in heaven, but when he comes again in Final Victory, we will be with him, here in our home with Jesus.

My Takeaway: Recently, I saw a photograph of three Christians in Africa. The photograph captured the moment they were executed. Executed for being a Christian. Jesus was correct, the world hates us. Even so, we are called to stay in God’s grace for today. I am helped in this by joining with Paul and eagerly waiting for Jesus to return. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

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.

Eternal Life

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

May 15, 2025 

Eternal Life

“As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:17c 

In Romans 1:16-17, Paul tells us all we need to know about the Good News of Jesus. First, the Gospel is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Next, this Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. Lastly, all this is accomplished from start to finish by faith. The Good News, the Gospel, is all about Jesus, and his faithfulness to God. Our part is to simply believe in the Good News! Of course, Biblical believing is not so simple. We don’t just believe the Good News; we act on our beliefs and allow our belief in the Good News to transform our lives to become like Jesus.

Sometimes, these verses are reduced to simply saying the “just shall live by faith.” That is true, we the just, we who by faith in Jesus have been made to be in a right relationship with God, we are called to live by faith. But another translation of verse 17 renders it,

“the one who is righteous through faith will live.”

Let’s meditate on how this one sentence affirms the words of Jesus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NRSV)

My Takeaway: We are seeking to stay, each day, in God’s grace for each day. For me, knowing that I have been made righteous by faith in Christ, and that I will live, live eternally with my Creator, helps me stay grounded in the moment.

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.

 

My Grace Is All You Need

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

May 14, 2025

My Grace Is All You Need

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-9a

Paul does not identify his thorn in the flesh, at least not directly. That is good, because Paul’s comfort from God is the very same comfort God offers to all His children, regardless of the specific nature of our personal thorn in the flesh.

Paul’s response to God’s answer to his prayer is very insightful: “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (12:9b) Our thorns can be in ways our physical bodies may be compromised, or they can be the circumstances of our life, or how we may be more introverted, but have a need to be an extrovert. Paul is affirming whatever our personal thorn may be, we can experience the power of Christ working through us to accomplish God’s purpose for our life. Paul experienced that beautiful moment of, not I, but Christ. Me too, how about you?

My Takeaway: God knows us, and He knows our circumstances. No matter where we are, no matter what issue we may be facing, God’s grace is all we need. His power works best in our weakness. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles . . .” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4a)

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.

 

What is Your Answer?

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

May 13, 2025

What is Your Answer?

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16:15 

Jesus and his disciples were in the region of Caesarea Philippi, where, as the name implies, there were many statues and memorials to the various Roman gods. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am? The disciples proffered several answers, then Jesus asked the question: “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (16:16)

Jesus replied to Peter, “You are blessed Peter because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” (16:17)

Peter’s answer, and Jesus’ reply give me an insight for my quest to live the Christ life and to stay in the grace for today. First, in my life as a disciple of Jesus, I too must answer Jesus’ question, “But who do you say I am?” While many answers might be correct, the one answer Jesus seeks is: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Secondly, Jesus’ reply to Peter affirms that we are not left to our own devices to sort out the truth of God. Just as God, through revelation knowledge, revealed to Peter the truth of Jesus, so also will our heavenly Father affirm Jesus as Messiah to us.

My Takeaway: “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16) This same Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Thanks be to God.

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.