God's Blessings Are Not Earned But Given Freely by His Grace

 

*_God's Blessings are not Earned but Given Freely by His Grace_*

"I also realized that *the portions for the Levites had not been given them;* for each of *the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field."*

~Nehemiah 13:10

So remember just a little while back, everybody had read the law and they said, "Oh, we're going to serve God. We're going to write the covenant. We're going to sign. We're going to tithe. We're going to support the temple. We'll give money. We're going to do these things."

Didn't take them long to fall away from that commitment.

Isn't it interesting how quickly we can turn away from the vows that we have made to God? How easily we can break vows? The vows were really made in sincerity.

Growing up as a child, wanting to be better, wanting to be good, wanting to do the right thing. "Oh God, I'm going to pray everyday this week. Oh God, I'm going to live for You this week. Oh God, I'm just going to serve You."

And then it doesn't come. It doesn't happen. And the following Sunday night I feel so guilty I'd have to get saved again. And then I'd say, "Oh God, this week is going to be different. Lord, I'm going to really serve You this week."

And I would mean it, I was sincere.

As Jesus said to Peter, *"The spirit indeed is willing"* (Matthew 26:41).

And that was so true. My spirit was willing. I loved the Lord. I wanted to serve the Lord. But my flesh was weak. The will to do was with me, but how to perform I could not find.

But yet in my heart, in my mind, I loved God and I wanted to serve God. And I made so many promises. And I was just like the children of Israel. Making the promises. And, "Lord, we're going to do it. We're going to sign. Here we are."

The desire was there. The problem came in the performance. How to perform. How to do.

But I thank God for the day I discovered the grace of God. And that the blessings of God upon my life were not predicated upon my faithfulness to my promises or vows. But the blessings of God upon my life were bestowed because He is a God of grace, full of mercy.