“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. (Heb.13:9)”
God’s writer for the above verse warns us that it is possible for our heart i.e. our intellect, emotions, and volition, to be carried from one strange and foreign doctrine to another. How can this be? I am a child of God! Every real child of God knows deep within that only God’s rich grace presented and permitted us to partake of His precious salvation! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph.2:8-9)” To many, I am afraid, that God’s grace is only associated with salvation. Certainly, we must and should frequently praise our Lord for His benevolent act of personally meeting and bestowing His wonderful gift of redemption upon us but does grace end there! My dear friends this is only the beginning! IICor.1:22 proclaims that salvation is merely the down payment (“earnest”) for what is to follow. Perhaps it is time we all hang our heads and deeply examine where we stand spiritually. Maybe we can only remember the love and zeal we used to have.
The “carried about” in Heb.13:9 introduces a scary thought. If we become passive, in our walk and talk with the Lord, we give permission to outside influences to rule us, in spite of our Biblical knowledge and the occasional interaction. In a world filled with multitudes of anti-God ways, we must assume the responsibility, with fear and trembling, of scanning our own lives. Never forget that God has daily grace for each of us – first, for salvation (Rom.10:13) if we are void of it, and ,secondly, He ever so desires to meet with ever child of His for daily strength that He might see and hear our daily praises for His movements and comfort.
To the church of Ephesus and to our souls today God says through Paul,
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Eph.1:6-9)
God ever so desires to connect His grace with us. Are we willing?
R.L.