God’s Part … and Ours
God’s Part … and Ours
I came across a startling statement in a recent study of Genesis 20. In verse 6, God tells Abimelech, “I have kept you from sinning against me.”
Our logic protests this.
What about the moral responsibility of man? What about our individual freedom? How can God keep us from sinning—and yet insist we are responsible when we do sin?
Good questions.
And that’s where grace comes in. I wonder if we really understand the depth and height and power of God’s grace? The Bible tells us God’s grace is sufficient. It’s even sufficient to meet our needs when we’re faced with temptation. Don’t you think it makes sense, then, that God is really the one who keeps us from sinning when we stand firm and obey?
Ah, but that grace is a gift. Ephesians 2 tells us that. Like any gift, we must take hold of it and make it our own. When we turn down God’s gift of grace and choose to follow our sinful nature, doesn’t it make sense that such an action is our responsibility?
God does His part. He extends His grace—the desire and the power to do His will. What we choose to do with His gift is left up to us.
What should be our response to this? We can say, with Paul,
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
… For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36).
God’s grace is a gift to be opened and used.
Are you doing so?