When You Live Under Grace, You Can Truly Enjoy The Blessings Around You Because You Know That They Are Undeserved.

23/ 01/ 25

Gospel Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
“Return to your mistress and act as you should, for I will make you into a great nation.”
Genesis 16:9–10, TLB

Your Place of Blessing.
In Genesis 16, when Abraham and Sarah couldn’t have a baby, it was Sarah’s idea to have Abraham sleep with her maid, Hagar. When Hagar got pregnant, rather than be happy about it, Sarah mistreated Hagar so badly that she fled into the desert. The problem was that Hagar left her place of blessing. She had no way to survive in the desert. An angel appeared to her and was saying, “Go back to your place of blessing and serve Sarah. I’m making you into a great nation.”

Sometimes you have to stay when it’s hard, to forgive those who do you wrong, and be good to people who are not being good to you. Being in the right place is better than getting your way. But notice how merciful God is. At times we leave where we’re supposed to stay, or we stay where God wants us to leave. The good news is that God is going to send an angel to keep you from missing your place of blessing. You’re going to hear that still small voice inside, telling you what to do. Don’t ignore it.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for being the merciful God who can take my messes and the things I’ve run away from and turn them into miracles when I return and face them. Thank You that Your grace is always there to help me. I believe that You are working all things together for my good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

One of the saddest things about a man who trusts in his strengths and self-efforts—”who . . . makes flesh his strength”—is that he cannot see good when it comes his way.

As a pastor, I have seen, down through the years, people who don’t put their trust in the Lord when it comes to their marriages, finances, and other areas of weakness. They are determined to trust in their own efforts, and tend to be rather arrogant and frustrated with the people around them.

Many a time, when you observe people like that, you realize that they cannot see the good things that are right under their noses. They don’t appreciate their spouses, neglect their children, and even when other blessings come their way, they miss them!

Why is it that they can’t see good when it comes? It is because people who trust in their own efforts have no ability to see and receive blessings from the Lord. They only believe in the “good” that can come from their own efforts. That is why they are proud.

You would probably notice that such people don’t say “thank you” very often to the people around them. They feel like they are entitled to and deserve whatever they receive. They are rarely grateful or appreciative, and that is why they take their spouses for granted instead of seeing them as a blessing from the Lord.

In contrast, people who are living under grace and who trust in the Lord’s unmerited favor are constantly thankful, praising God, and giving thanks to Jesus. They are grateful and appreciative of the people around them.

When I was still a bachelor, I had an idea of the kind of wife I wanted and brought my request to the Lord. But you know what? He over-answered my prayer and gave me Wendy! I am truly grateful to the Lord for Wendy and I know that it is the unmerited favor of Jesus.

When I look at my daughter Jessica, I know that I don’t deserve such a beautiful daughter, and yet the Lord gave this precious girl to me. You see, my friend, I did nothing to deserve it, but the Lord blessed me with an amazing family.

When you live under grace, you can truly enjoy the blessings around you because you know that they are undeserved. Look at the family, friends, and other blessings that God has given you today. See how He has blessed you with them because He loves you. And when you see them as blessings, they will enrich your life (Prov. 10:22)!