Tag Archives: salvation

December 10

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Acts 23:12-25:22

Paul’s enemies wanted him dead. They lied and schemed and even vowed not to eat anything until they killed him. And the only reason they hated Paul was because they believed something different than he did about Scripture.

Have we changed so much since then? I know wars have been fought in the name of God. Planes have been flown into buildings in the name of God. Even denominational differences within Christianity can produce heated arguments. To what degree are we to fight against people who disagree with us?

I believe sometimes we have to go to war with nations who threaten our safety. But I wish we didn’t have to. I hate abortion, the murder of innocent children. But I also hate it when I hear an abortion clinic has been bombed or an abortion doctor has been shot to death in the name of God. I know that homosexuality is a sin and, in the Old Testament, punishable by death. But I was saddened to read this morning that a church known for helping the needy reportedly believe gay people should die. Whether or not they truly believe that, I don’t know. But I find it interesting the media put it out there now when charitable given is typically high.

Friend, let’s remember that our enemy is not flesh and blood. God sent Jesus to die for all of us. He wants the atheist, the abortion doctor, the drug dealer, the homosexual, the liar and the glutton to accept his Son as Savior. Satan is the enemy. But we are commanded to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone! 

Father, I pray for your people today. May we stand up for the truth of Scripture, may our lives reflect Jesus’ love, and may we love even those who disagree with us. I know that’s not to say we should ignore or tolerate sin. But help us to show a lost world that what we have with you is so much better than what they have without you in their lives. May they be drawn to you because of us. Then, we’ll let you handle the sin in their lives!

December 9

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Acts 21:1-23:11

Paul wasn’t one to take the easy way out. If God wanted him to go to Jerusalem he’d go to Jerusalem no matter how many people warned him of the danger awaiting him there. Thrown in prison, he still preached the Gospel. Beaten, insulted, lied about, and he refused to compromise. Paul knew the Truth. And nothing – not even the threat of death – would stop him from holding to that Truth and obeying God.

It’s easier to keep our faith to ourselves for fear of offending someone, looking like fools, rejection, even breaking the law. But as Christians we are commanded to get out there and preach the Gospel. I believe God would have us be as determined as Paul was to obey that command.

The last verse we read today is amazing. Listen to what is written in 23:11:

The following night the Lord stood near to Paul and said, “Take courage…”

The same God who stood with Paul stands with us today. I believe he is saying the same thing to us in 2013. “Take courage! Talk about me to your family and friends. Then be amazed at what happens next.”

Dear God, may your people be as determined as Paul was to share you with a lost world. May we obey you when you nudge us toward someone whose heart you are readying to accept you. Give us the boldness to share you, regardless of our fear. Thank you for standing with us as we obey you today.

December 5

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Romans 5:1-8:17

Best. News. Ever!

That’s what I think when I read the first 17 verses of Romans 8. Just look at verses 1&2:

Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me FREE from the law of sin and death. (those caps are mine)

When I accepted Christ as my Savior, Jesus took on the guilt of my sin and I became guilt-free. No condemnation for this woman! And to top it off, verses 14-17 tell me I became a child of God, a co-heir with Christ. Paul calls it a spirit of sonship. I like it!

So I have a choice, which in my opinion is no choice at all. I can reject the Lord and live according to what nature desires. Or I can accept Jesus and set my mind on what the Spirit desires. Verse 6:

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Death, or life and peace. I choose Christ. It’s a no-brainer.

The Spirit of Christ lives in me. Like I said…

Best. News. Ever!

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming into my heart and life. Thank you for taking the penalty for my sin and setting me free from sin’s control. Thank you for making me your child. I give you my life. I give you my mind. I give you today. Thank you for promising to go with me. Prepare me to do the job you want me to do. I love you, Lord.

December 4

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Romans 2-4

Did you know Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” is actually the middle of a sentence? Here is what that entire sentence says beginning with verse 22b:

There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

In the same breath Paul calls us sinners then points us to grace. I love the word “freely” in that sentence. We are all sinners and we have all been given a gift. Not a wage, like Paul explains in chapter 4. A costly gift, yes. It cost Jesus his life to pay the penalty for my sin.

But he offers it to me freely. The righteousness he bought is mine for the taking. He redeemed me through his precious blood. It’s  a righteousness I can’t earn. It’s forgiveness I don’t deserve.

Go back to 3:22: 
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to ALL WHO BELIEVE.

I am almost done with my Christmas shopping and in fact, have most of the presents already wrapped. I love buying for my loved ones and carefully pick out things I believe they will appreciate. They aren’t paying for those gifts. I don’t spend more on the ones who were nicest to me this year. These gifts are an expression of my love for them. And it would hurt me deeply if those gifts remained unopened after I gave them.

That’s kind of what happens when, faced with the truth of our sinful state, we walk away from God’s grace. He bought our forgiveness and is handing it to us with open arms. My prayer is that you won’t let that gift go unopened.

As I was writing this this morning the words from an old hymn kept running through my head. Some of the words are these:

Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin.

How can my tongue describe it? Where shall its praise begin?

Taking away my burdens, setting my spirit free.

For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

Gracious Jesus, thank you for going to the cross and paying the debt for my sin. Thank you for freely offering redemption to me, a sinner. I pray that each one who reads this today will accept your gift. And may we who know you as our Savior make you Lord of our lives. May we live today out of grateful hearts and serve you with love.

 

December 1

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2 Corinthians 2:5-6:18

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When you hold an infant in your arms, aren’t you struck by his innocence? His complete lack of a past? That child can look at you without a hint of regret or sorrow for something he’s done. He has no memory of disobeying, because he’s never disobeyed. He doesn’t carry guilt because he isn’t guilty.

Dear One, that’s how God looks at us when we are born again. When we confess our sins, he forgives, cleanses, and forgets! The old us is gone and we have a new beginning, just like that infant.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (5:21) 

Jesus did that for us and it is ours for the asking. Is Jesus Lord of your life? Have you repented of sin? If you have, you have a clean slate. Understand that God has forgiven you, has paid the price for your past sins, and has forgotten them.

If you have not accepted the Lord, I pray you will ask Jesus into your life and become that new creation. And if you know the Lord as your Savior, but need to speak to him about some unconfessed sin, I pray you will do that today. Let Jesus do what he came to do and make you the righteousness of God through his blood. 

I’m praying for you today.

November 25

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I Corinthians 1-4

Paul spends a lot of time talking about wisdom here in these chapters. The intellectuals of the day may have put themselves above the message of faith and the apostle, who spoke their language, called them out on it.

1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

Paul quoted Isaiah 29:4 where it says God will frustrate the intelligence of the intelligent.

“Where is the wise man?… Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

Paul, who was probably as smart and as schooled as any of the people he was writing to said he put aside everything except Jesus Christ, the crucified Savior so that their faith would be based on Jesus alone and not on Paul’s wisdom. 
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” (3:19)

i don’t care how smart you think you are. You may have an IQ that rivals Einstein or you may have studied philosophy with the greatest thinkers of our time. My prayer, however, is that you won’t talk yourself out of a relationship with your Savior.

You may sit and imagine how you would have done things differently if you were God. But you aren’t God. You may question a God who allows evil, sickness, wars, famine. But you don’t know the mind of God and you never will this side of eternity. 

Don’t listen to the foolishness of men who deny God’s existence when the evidence is so apparent that not only does he exist, but his creation is beyond anything you could come up with on your own.

Do you doubt? Do you have questions? Have you read the Bible with an open mind? Put away the commentaries and the textbooks and just read God’s Word. Ask him to reveal himself to you and I promise you he will.

Dear God, I pray for those who read this blog today and are still unsure of the Truth. Open minds and hearts today, Lord, and may each one put away their foolishness and submit to your godship. Thank you for your Word, for Jesus and his sacrifice on our behalf. May we all bow before you, confess our sin and our helplessness, and allow you to pour your grace on each one. I pray for intelligent, thinking people today who still need the Savior.

November 22

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Acts 17:1-18:17; I Thessalonians 1-2

Witnessing, sharing our faith, giving our testimony, talking about the Lord is hard for most of us. Most of us did not go to a Bible College or go through a “how to” course on sharing the Gospel. We fumble over our words and forget the chapter and verse of the Scripture we want to use. We are so afraid we’re going to sound like fools we convince ourselves to say nothing.

Yet we are commanded by Jesus to go into all the world and preach the Gospel!

Paul was a master soul-winner and we can learn so much by studying him. Look at how he talked to the Greeks in Athens. He started the conversation with what they already knew. They worshiped lots of gods and in fact, just to cover their bases, worshiped “an unknown god”. Paul acknowledged that, then said – let me tell you about that unknown God because I just happen to know him!

Sometimes I think we believe sharing Jesus has to be a three point sermon. I know there are some who are saved in evangelistic services or at the kitchen tables when a stranger knocks on their door and comes to tell them about salvation. But I believe most people accept Christ as a result of someone who is invested in them. Who gets to know them, spends time with them and talks to them on their level of understanding. 

What is it your friend already knows about Christ? Start there. If God has nudged you toward speaking to your friend, he is already working in this dear one’s heart. Let God give you the words and trust him to use those words to draw this friend to himself.

Father, I pray that you would nudge each of us toward a loved one, neighbor, co-worker, or friend who’s heart you are readying to hear the Gospel. May each of us be faithful to reach out to this person, to listen to them and encourage them. Then when you open the door for us to put our faith into words, I pray that we will allow you to give us the words! Help us to see the people in our world like you do. And give us a loving boldness to tell them about your Son, our Savior… and theirs’.

November 20

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Galatians 4:8-6:18

What does it mean to be free in Christ? Did Jesus erase the law when he died on the cross? Are the things that were considered sin in the Old Testament no longer sinful? 

Paul explains that because Jesus took on himself the penalty of sin we are no longer justified by following the law. Forgiveness for sin no longer requires slashing the throat of a cow. Salvation comes through the blood of Jesus and is ours for the asking.

But, Paul says, evidence of this work is played out in obedience. Sin is still sin. He tells us not to indulge in the sinful nature, rather serve and love each other. Paul lists acts of the sinful nature in 5:19-21. Among those are sexual immorality, jealousy, drunkenness, and hatred and people who live like that will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But he also says, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. People who have the Spirit of the Living God just naturally live like that. It’s as natural as an apple tree bearing apples.

Who wouldn’t want to live being filled with the those fruit of the Spirit? Aren’t those the things most people are looking for in this life? Dear one, we are free to choose that life! We are free to choose Jesus.

Father, once again I thank you for what Jesus did on the cross when he took on himself the penalty for my sin. Help me to recognize sin and flee from it. May I be quick to confess sin in my life and may I be filled with your Holy Spirit so that I will bear that precious fruit. Not only will my life be better, but I can reach out and help others, too. May I bear fruit for your kingdom today.

November 19

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Galatians 1:1-4:7

Don’t you love reading Paul’s letters? They are filled with a grass-roots look at the Christian life and encouragement to meet that life head-on! He certainly was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, was he?

When I read things like what he wrote in his letter to the Galatians I wonder why so many of us still consider the flesh and blood nation of Israel as chosen for some special treatment by God. I appreciate how Paul explains it when he reminds us God’s promise to Abraham concerned Abraham’s Seed. Not seeds. One person who is Christ (3:10). 3:7&8 say anyone who believes are children of Abraham. 3:26-29 emphasize the fact that God does not recognize any difference between Jew and Gentile, male and female. We are all heirs according to the promise when we believe in Christ.

God revealed his plan first to a Jew. He chose that man’s physical family to reveal God to the world until the Seed was born. Now it’s our turn to show God to our neighbors and friends and go across the ocean if God calls us. 

I know there are Scripture that suggests the flesh and blood nation of Israel is still set apart. But it doesn’t even suggest such here in Paul’s letter. In fact, Paul says plainly that all believers are members of the nation of Israel, heirs, children of Abraham. It has nothing to do with the nationality of our parents. It has everything to do with our response to Jesus.

You know what these amazing verses mean to me? God doesn’t love anyone more than he does me. God isn’t more interested in anyone else’s eternal soul more than he is in mine. I am the apple of his eye. And so are you if you know Christ as your Savior.

Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and me. Thank you for Jesus and his obedience to your will. Thank you that his work on the cross allowed me to be adopted into your chosen family. Thank you that anyone who comes to you believing becomes heirs of the promise. And thank you for loving me so completely. May I live my life honoring you, my Father. And may others see Jesus in me.

November 15

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Acts 9:32-11:18

Cornelius was a good man. He even believed in God. But it wasn’t enough. He needed Jesus. So Peter went and shared the Gospel with Cornelius and his whole family. They repented that day, received the Holy Spirit, and were baptized. And they were Gentiles. I love the last verse we read today, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” Yes, even Gentiles!

We’re going to see that God no longer recognizes a difference between Jews and Gentiles. Peter said, in 10:34-35, “…I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Doing that right thing is accepting Jesus as Savior and it doesn’t matter if you are Jewish, Italian, Iranian, German, African, Chinese, or the mixture we call American. 

It’s not enough to believe in God. It’s not enough to be a law-abiding citizen. It’s not even enough to give to the poor or go to church or pay your taxes. Do you know Jesus? Have you accepted his forgiveness? Have you received his grace through faith? If you have, then you are a child of God, one of the chosen.

If you haven’t repented of sin and accepted Jesus as your Savior I pray you will do that. Do the right thing. Give yourself to the Lord and begin to serve him today. I promise you that walking with Jesus is so much better than going it alone.

Heavenly Father, I thank you that salvation is not limited to Jewish people. I thank you it’s not even limited to just good people. Your Word tells us all of us have sinned, none of us reach your glory or even come close. We all need Jesus. So I pray for those who have yet to humble themselves and receive your forgiveness. May they do the right thing today. And may we who know you represent you well so that others will want what we have in you. Some of our friends and neighbors need the forgiveness that only Jesus provides. May hearts turn to you today.