Power – June 2, 2015

Ephesians 1:6- 8     to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight…

Psalm 130:7     Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Romans 3:24     and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:14     in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:27     To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Nothing has the power to change us from within like the freedom of grace.  —Chuck Swindoll 

There is nothing more life changing or liberating or that possesses power like the freedom that comes through grace. It will not only touch and change our hearts but also our faces. Lord have mercy, some of us are overdue for a new face! Did your parents have faces that constantly said "No" or gave off a negative vibe? Are you married to someone with a "No" face? If you answered yes, are you jealous of people who had "Yes" face - affirming and encouraging parents or are married to "Yes"-face partners? Every last one of us wants to be attached to yes-faced people who celebrate, encourage and urge us on.

During his presidential term, Thomas Jefferson and his entourage were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river that had surged and crested because of a recent downpour; the only bridge had been washed away. The group was forced to cross the river on horseback, fighting against the strong, swirling currents. Death was on the mind of each rider.  A traveler, not part of their group, stepped aside to watch the perilous crossing. After watching several people plunge in and successfully make it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would help him cross the river. The president agreed; the man climbed on, and the two of them crossed safely. As the stranger slid off the back of the horse, a person in the group asked him, "why did you select the president?" The man said that he had no idea it was the president who had helped him. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No,' and on some of them was the answer 'Yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."

Freedom gives people a "Yes" face. I am confident Jesus had a "Yes" face.