ICS Daily Devotions
The Divine Infusion of Joy
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand
Christians have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, not by human effort as it is purely an act of love that God sent Jesus to reconcile us to Himself. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we can have the righteousness of Christ. We are justified by faith when we believe that Jesus has taken our place on the cross. Jesus’ death has satisfied the wrath of God and dealt with the sin issue that separated us from God.
Through Jesus, we also have access into this grace in which we stand, which means access into a wonderful standing in divine favour. In other words, being in Christ, the very favour in which Christ Himself stands has been extended to us. We are the highly favoured ones because we are hidden in Christ. God sees Christ only when He looks at us, and because He is well pleased with Jesus, He is also well pleased with us.
Standing grace is the grace that God gives us to stand in faith and live the Christian life, through which He also gives us ability for the various areas of our lives. Whatever you need to know, be or do, God wants to give you grace you in such a way that you will have His supernatural ability in that area—your work, homemaking, children’s education or spiritual life. We all need God’s grace to live. Without it, we will eventually burn out and resent the things we once loved.
It is through faith that we stand in grace, because faith helps us to be connected to the vine and allows the Word to abide in us. Meanwhile, God’s grace gives us the ability to have faith, to know, to grow, to think, to give, to be and to do all the things God wants for us.
Faith will begin to arise when you believe in God’s unmerited favour and the abundant grace towards us that caused us to have divine favour. It will also grant us strength and favour with men. If this is what we stand upon and believe, we are able to bear the fruit of joy!
We believe that God’s grace on which we stand makes a way of breakthrough for us and infuses His grace in the form of joy into our lives. This joy is from God, connected with God, given by God and sustained by God through the influence of the Holy Spirit. It’s a divine infusion of joy!
Sermon Series: Joy – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
