Daily Devotional
Is Jesus Real to You?
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:6-9
August 1, 2024
Ponder This
Many churches are filled with people who’ve never been born again because they have never had a personal confrontation, a faith encounter with Jesus Christ. They’ve met a creed, but not Christ; they’ve met a cause, but not Christ; they’ve met a code, but not Christ; they’ve met a church, but not Christ.
Do you know Jesus Christ? When I tell you I am a Christian, I want you to know Jesus Christ is real to me. I put my faith in Him. We believe in the Gospel that not only brings Christ in but also centers in Him. It doesn’t simply mention Him or give lip service to Him. Back when Paul wrote this, the surrounding culture worshiped many gods. In fact, if you go to Rome, you can still visit the Pantheon. That means many gods. It’s a beautiful building where they had niches in the walls for all the gods and you could worship any of them. That made everybody happy.
Rome was not a destroyer of religions; it would bring them all together and join them. But here is the thing, you can’t do that with Jesus Christ. It’s not “Jesus and”; it’s not “Jesus or”; it’s “Jesus only.”
- What are some things that threaten to take your attention away from Jesus?
- What does it look like to have a personal relationship with Jesus? How can you grow in your relationship with Him?
Practice This
Share with another person how Jesus is personal to you.
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.’”
