Pearls of Wisdom: Grace

Proverbs 1:8-9

⁸My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  

⁹For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

If you are a parent, you should really pour these two scriptures into your children on a regular basis. Post them around the house, in their room, in their minds and hearts.  Really take time to cement their understanding of these scriptures because we all know they will need them very soon.  For most children, the instruction and laws of their parents always seem unfair, restrictive, overly protective, and unreasonable.  But little do they know, these instructions and laws protect them from the unknown, train them to be good and productive citizens, respectful and honorable towards adults as well as focused and disciplined in their behavior.  They do not know this but we do.  As their parents, we must see beyond their cries to issue discipline.  We must see beyond their saddened faces to train them.  Despite their numerous and boisterous protests, we must place boundaries in their lives for their own protection.   How many times have your children disregarded your instructions only to find themselves in the very trouble you tried to warn them about?

The same can be said about our responses to God's instructions.  We often disregard the instructions found in His Word only to find ourselves begging Him to get us out of situations that He tried to warn us about.  In His Word, God is urging us to hear His instruction and not disregard it.  Through our personal devotion with Him as well as hearing the Word in church, God sends us instructions that are purposeful for our protection, discipline, character, integrity and maturity.  Like our own children, we may often view God’s instructions as limiting and restrictive.  Yet we often forget that God’s Word is designed to protect us, train us, keep us focused and deliver us into His promises.  He desires that we have an endless supply of His promises, and for that reason, He has given us instruction on how to experience and endless supply of Him.  Yet whether or not we will hear and hearken to these instructions is a matter of personal choice.  A choice that we often struggle with despite the scripture’s promise that they shall be an ornament of grace upon our head.  His divine grace.  The grace that covers us and protects us from the snares of the enemy.  The grace that heals and delivers us from sinful behavior and strongholds.  The grace that allows us to grow in Him although we often make mistakes along the way.   And more specifically to you sister, the grace that adorns a godly woman’s speech, behavior, attitude and attire; that empowers a godly wife’s submission to her husband; that strengthens a godly single mother to raise her children while she pursues her career or educational goals.  Only in the divine instructions contained within His Word can we find this Grace.   

And this same grace shall act as a chain about our flesh.  A chain is a series of things linked together to provide the strength that binds or restricts objects.  This is exactly what our sin-driven flesh needs in order to remain subject to the will of God.  Because our natural tendencies are to be sinful and flesh-driven, we must continually stay linked into our personal relationship with God that is linked to a bible-based church that is linked to our purpose in ministry that is linked to our obedience that is linked to godly relationships that are linked to our accountability and so on…do you see where this is going? This godly chain is available and necessary for us to be strengthened and delivered from the lusts of the flesh that so easily get us off focus.  This chain is rooted in the grace found in His Word that can bind and restrict your flesh and at the same time set YOU free.  You need only choose to hear the instructions of your father and obey.

Pearls to ponder:  How does the Grace of God adorn your life?  In what areas does the Grace of God need to change you?   How strong is the chain around your spiritual life? What links do you have in your Godly chain?  Are there any links in your chain that should not be there?  What is the weakest link in your chain? What is the strongest?

Pearls to treasure: 

Isaiah 48:18 O that you had hearkened to my commandments! Then would your peace have been as a river and your righteousness as the waves of the sea.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.