September 26, 2018
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. Titus 3:5
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
We’ve got to quit trying to be saved by doing good things or being a moral person or even by keeping the Ten Commandments.
If you extracted from every person on earth the very best character traits and put them all into one person, that one would still have to bow before God and cry out for mercy to be saved.
The law says “if.” The gospel says “therefore.”
The law says you must earn salvation. The gospel says salvation is a gift.
The law demands holiness. The gospel provides holiness.
The law says do. The gospel says done.
The law says run, but it doesn’t give us legs.
The gospel says fly, and it gives us wings of grace.
Oh, thank God for the gospel. Romans 8:3 tells us that what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Christ did. By dying for sinful man, He brought us light and life and immortality in the gospel.
ACTION POINT:
Dear friend, if you want to be saved, you're going to have to stop trying and start trusting. Romans 10:4 makes it clear that Jesus Christ means the end of the struggle for righteousness-by-the-Law for everyone who believes in Him. Cast yourself upon Him totally and completely—upon Him and Him alone.
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.’”