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Our Response - Ability

Words of Faith Final

Our Response - Ability
Words of Faith 9-27-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 8
   [31] What, then, shall we say in response to this?

     Paul concludes this masterpiece regarding the synergy of God by asking a series of seven questions. The first question-- What, then, shall we say in response to this?  
     What can we say? In response to the overwhelming grace of God that has been exposed here? What can we say in response to the knowledge that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose? That those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers? And that those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified?
      One commentator suggests that the word "Hallelujah" is the only fitting response. "Thank you, Jesus," also comes to mind. But the right words are exceedingly difficult.
      Perhaps, there really is nothing to say. Nothing to add. Nothing to subtract. Human words so easily mar that which God has made so beautiful-- like dirty hands touching the petals of a rose. After all, no words can magnify the awesomeness of His grace. No words can express the overwhelming joy of discovering the grace of God at work in every fragment of our lives. Perhaps, like Isaiah, upon seeing a vision of the Lord in the Temple, we would say: "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty" (Isaiah 6:5).      

      The psalmist answers the question saying simply: "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations" (Psalm 89:1). One response is a commitment to make this message of God's faithfulness known everywhere in every way.
      James would likely answer that the response is not so much what we say as what we do.  Talk is cheap. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). Speak loudly with action.
      Perhaps all of these are part of the response. Quietly say: "Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus."  Then sit in quiet. Determine to sing of the mercies of the Lord forever and make His faithfulness known through all generations. Then, set out to walk in the grace we have been given in concrete acts of service.

       Lord. Jesus. There are no words. Hallelujah. Thank you. Indeed. I will sing of Your mercies forever. Let me walk in your grace and mercy in ways that are indeed graceful and merciful. Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.