In scripture we can see a pattern of our responsibility as Christians, our inability to fulfill those responsibilities in our own human effort, and Jesus' grace which empowers us to be obedient to that which He calls us. Grace is not something we earn through works, but is an unmerited gift from God—made possible by Christ and the cross.

God sometimes suspends the comfort of His people to test His promises in their lives. It is through the testing of God's promises that He forms His living word in us. He plants in us a word of authority and mercy that breaks through the hardened hearts of our generation. It can be a painful process, but God has given us a vision of Christ to comfort our hearts through the dark times that He sometimes leads us into.

In a covenant of grace, what is our responsibility? Many of us freely accept the grace of God that brought us to salvation in Jesus, but after that we fall into a pattern of self-salvation. We strive in our own efforts to try and be pleasing to God, or to be some kind of super saint. Rather than walking in the freedom and grace that Christ won for us on the cross, we try to earn God's love through the law and works. The gospel is not just good news for the lost. Even as believers we need to be reminded daily of the freedom that we have in Jesus. Our responsibility is trusting that He will give us the grace to accomplish the unique calling that He has for each of us.

The Lord loves a cheerful giver. If we are able to sacrifice at all it is because the Lord has provided us the capacity to do so. He gives us the capacity to cheerfully give up those things that we thought were bringing us cheer. The Lord will give us both the willingness and the ability; it is God who is working in us both to will and to do.

What happens when God's glory is manifest? God's people will cling to Him and the work that He is doing. We will be "utterly astounded"—His presence is indescribable. There will be an anticipation and expectation for the things of God. There will be unity, not division and competition. God's glory is not reserved for pastors or super Christians. It's not a fading glory, like the Old Testament, but an increasing everlasting glory available to all of us.

As is the American way, we tend to become less adventurous as we get older. We have it backwards. Each day, the life of God in us should become more and more of a reality. As we grow in our intimacy and maturity with Him, our lives should become increasingly radical. If we settle for comfort and safety, we won't grow in our dependence on Christ. He promises to be with us as we go out and make disciples—facing the rejection, fear and self-doubt that come with reaching out beyond our capabilities.

A lifetime of lies, betrayal and abuse teach us of the unfaithfulness of people and even ourselves. We tend to place these attributes on God, but God has promised us He will be unfailingly faithful. He wants to heal us and build our relationship with Him based on His character. As this character is formed in us we become more Christ-like. His nature formed in us will embolden us to reach out to those hurting, addicted and lost — causing us to not be men and women with positions and titles, but with the character of Jesus.

In spite of discouragement, our downtrodden feelings and the affects of ministry, we are called to bare fruit. Fruit does not come when we stand compassionless to the needs of others. The gospel is good news that proclaims the love of God for the world; and to preach it effectively we must have the same love that God has for the world.