Magnify grace, not self

Every time I try to make me look good instead of God, I discount his grace. And according to John Piper, that is the opposite of faith.

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own insufficiency to the free and all-sufficient resources of God. Faith focuses on the freedom of God to dispense grace to the unworthy. It banks on the bounty of God. – John Piper

Faith is when I look at myself and know, “Not enough.” I need God now and in my future, with the future being the very next second from now.

Future Grace is a life-changing book. I’ve invested much time soaking in it to better appreciate and receive God’s grace, all time well spent.

: : :

Future-Grace-John-Piper

Excerpt from Future Grace

When I lost my footing as little boy in the undertow at Daytona Beach, I felt as if I were going to be dragged to the middle of the ocean in an instant.

It was a terrifying thing. I tried to get my bearings and figure out which way was up. But I couldn’t get my feet on the ground and the current was too strong to swim. I wasn’t a good swimmer any way.

In my panic I thought of only one thing: Could someone help me?

But I couldn’t even call out from under the water. When I felt my father’s hand take hold of my upper arm like a mighty vice grip, it was the sweetest feeling in the world.

I yielded entirely to being overpowered by his strength. I reveled in being picked up at his will. I did not resist.

The thought did not enter my mind that I should try to show that things aren’t so bad; or that I should add my strength to Dad’s arm.

All I thought was, Yes! I need you! I thank you! I love your strength! I love your initiative! I love your grip! You are great!

In that spirit of yielded affection one cannot boast. I call that yielded affection “faith.”  And my father was the embodiment of the future grace that I craved under the water. This is the faith that magnifies grace.

As we ponder how to live the Christian life, the uppermost thought should be: How can I magnify rather than nullify the grace of God?

Paul answers this question in Galatians 2:20-21, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God.”

Why does his life not nullify the grace of God? Because he lives by faith in the Son of God.

Faith calls attention to grace and magnifies it, rather than nullifying it.
– John Piper

: : :

More short quotes from Future Grace:

31-Days-of-Books-at-Lisa-notes.gif

Tagged on:

3 thoughts on “Magnify grace, not self

  1. Mia

    Dear Lisa
    Major Ian Thomas wrote a book, The Saving Life of Christ , which you can download for free from the web, where he tells us how our Lord Jesus sanctifies us daily through His saving Life and endless grace. I think you will enjoy that book very much. I want to check out our bookstore for this book of John Piper.
    Blessings XX
    Mia

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *