Daily Devotional
Are You Religious or Redeemed?
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:1
April 20, 2023
Ponder This
It is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). You can’t beg it, you can’t buy it, you can’t borrow it, you can’t steal it, and you can’t earn it. It is the grace of God; salvation was bought by Christ on the cross. When Christ finished, it was accomplished. You cannot deplete it, and you can’t add to it—it is the supernatural work of God. It is the grace of Christ. He is the subject of the Gospel. It is about Him: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You may say, “Well, I believe the plan of salvation.” You can believe the plan of salvation and go straight to Hell, because you’re not saved by the plan of salvation, you’re saved by the man of salvation. It’s not a creed. You may say, “I believe if you live right, you’ll go to Heaven.” Paul said if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:21).
Do you know why we have so much religious mayhem in the world today? Because people have met creeds, not Christ. They’ve entered into codes of living but not met Christ. They’ve joined churches without meeting Christ. Salvation is not believing something; it is receiving Someone. Jesus is just not a good way to Heaven; He’s the only way to Heaven.
- What are some other things you can think of that people put their faith in instead of Jesus?
- What are you tempted to put faith in over Jesus?
Practice This
Pray for a friend or loved one who has not put his or her faith in Jesus. Confess any ways you need to turn back to Jesus or turn to Jesus for the first time.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
