It Is by Grace That You Are Saved

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1, 3, 8-9

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;(1) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.(3) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:(8) Not of works, lest any man should boast.(9)

Scripture Commentary: By grace you are saved – it is a gift of God

Be thankful to God for having mercy on you and for saving you from the life you were living before. Be thankful that by grace you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Did you, or do you thank Him?

We go about our everyday lives, sometimes not realizing where we have come from. Some of us were in Satan’s hands, living his lifestyle, and then Jesus Christ rescued us. Have you ever thought why?

If you have, then the question is, what are you doing with this new life that Christ has given you? God gave His son for you and I. What are you giving?

We go about our daily lives – we go to work, church, grocery shopping, and visiting with friends, etc. Are we helping others to come to Him when we do these things?

Christ destroyed the barriers that people build between themselves, and now we can have real unity with people who do not know the Lord. Tell your story to others about how Jesus Christ has change your life, about the light that shines in you. Because of His love we are saved, but now we must serve in His name.

When He saved you, your spirit became lighter, happier. When you serve Him, you will be complete.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ephesians Chapter 2

Who Knows the Fate of the Spirit of Man?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3: 18-21

I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Scripture Commentary: What is the fate of the spirit of man?

Our bodies can’t live forever in this present state. In that sense humans and animals are alike. Soloman, however, acknowledged that God has given people the hope of eternity. We come from dust and to dust we will return. But what of the spirit of man? We will undergo judgment in the next life and this makes us different from animals.

Our purpose in life starts with whom we know, not what we know or how good we are. we are not here on earth to serve ourselves, but to serve God and others.

Because we are created in God’s image, we have a spiritual thirst and an eternal value. Nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy us. He has built in us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule.

God’s plan is for us to live forever with him. So live with eternal values in view, realizing that all contradictions will one day be cleared up by the creator himself. He has given us a glimpse; however, we cannot see into the future or comprehend everything. We must trust him now and do his work on earth.

Are you now living as God wants? Do you see life as a great gift from him?

He loves you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

Return To the Lord Your God

Scripture: Hosea 14: 1-3

O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Assh’-us shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

Scripture Commentary: Return to God who cares for your and loves you continually

Return to God by asking for forgiveness of your sins. This solution worked in the time of Hosea, and it works today. Forgiveness begins with the destruction of sin. Once you understand the futility of life without God you become eligible for forgiveness.

We cannot save ourselves; our only hope is God’s mercy. Requesting forgiveness means recognizing that we do not deserve it and therefore cannot demand it. Our appeal must be for God’s love and mercy, not for his justice. Although we cannot demand forgiveness, we can confidently receive it.

God is gracious and loving, and wants to restore us to himself because he loves us. When our will is weak, when our thinking is confused, and when our conscience is burdened with a load of guilt, we must remember that God cares for us continually; his compassion never fails.

When we can’t see the way or hear God’s voice; when we lack courage to go on, God’s compassion never fails. We will fail him, but his love will never fail us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hosea Chapter 14

Depend on God in Your Weakness

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Scripture Commentary: God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness when I depend on him

Do you let your thorns, your weakness, rest with the Lord? Or do you try to remove them yourself?

Paul tells us he asked our Lord to remove his, but God did not. God gave him the strength to do His works. God was showing Paul that with God by his side he could do all things.

We need this weakness in ourselves in order to feel the power of Christ at work inside of us. When we are strong in abilities and resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own. This leads to pride.

When we are weak we allow God to fill us with His power. We become stronger than we could ever be on our own. God doesn’t intend for us to seek weakness and ineffectiveness. Life provides enough obstacles without us creating them. He expects us to depend on him when those obstacles come into play.

Dependence on God lets us know He is the powerful one, not us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Corinthians Chapter 12

God Is My Strength; He Will Do What Is Right

Scripture: Habakkuk 3: 1-2, 19

A prayer of Ha-bak’-kuk the prophet upon Shig-i-o’-noth. O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.(1, 2) The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.(19)

Scripture Commentary: Live in the strength of God, confident in his ultimate victory

Habakkuk praised God for answering his questions. Evil will not triumph; God is in control. God is our strength; trust him to vindicate the faithful. God will give his followers surefooted confidence through difficult times.

Sometimes nothing makes sense. Sometimes we cannot hold the weight of our troubles. Remember that God gives strength. God is alive. He’s in control of the world and its events.

The spiritual war we are in today is for a reason. We cannot see or understand all that God is doing, and we cannot see or understand all that God will do. We just know he is God and will do what is right. God will bring about peace in his justice. He will completely rid the world of evil.

God’s people need to live in the strength of his Spirit, confident in his ultimate victory. Knowing this can give us confidence and hope in this confusing world. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Habakkuk Chapter 3

Have We Polluted Our City with False Praise?

Scripture: Zephaniah 3: 1-4

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the marrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Scripture Commentary: Have we rejected God in our hearts?

Have we polluted our cities, churches and lives, by not living the way God has told us?

Zephaniah had predicted the destruction of the nations surrounding the city of Jerusalem. He turned to the sinning in Jerusalem.

Are our cities becoming defiled and sinful as the pagan cities of yesterday? Are we pretending to falsely serve God? Have we rejected him in our hearts? Are we continuing to be complacent about our sins? Do we no longer care about the consequences of turning from God?

God has given us the way out. The Bible, His Word, His Son, Jesus Christ is the way. We experience events that tempt us to destruction or salvation.

God sent his Son to die on the cross for all our sins. He rose on the third day and went to heaven to prepare a place for us. God has given you the way. Are you going to take it?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Zephaniah Chapter 3

The Promise of His Coming

Scripture: 2 Peter 3: 3-4, 8

Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, And saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the father fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (3, 4) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is one day.(8)

Scripture Commentary: We have the promise of His coming

What are you afraid of? If this world was to end today, this second, why would you be afraid? Only those who do not know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will have fear. Be assured of his coming. Those who have Christ in their life, who live for Him, have no fear.

Neither Man nor woman know God’s timetable, only He knows. We are to live for God everyday of our lives, and do His work everyday while we are here on earth.

When the day comes that you are not here, or can not do the work of our Lord, that can be your last day. What will you say when He asks, “What have you done in my name?”

Do not fall asleep without working to spread his Word to others. These are our last days, and this is the time between Christ’s first and second coming. Thus we, like Peter, are living in the last days. Be ready to meet our Lord Jesus Christ anytime, even today. If you serve Him, you will meet Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Peter Chapter 3

Live By the Faith of the God Who Loves You

Scripture: Galatians 2: 19-21

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Scripture Commentary: Live by the faith of the Son of God, not by your own efforts

Obedience to God’s laws alone cannot save you. Sin is an everlasting epidemic. It plagues us all and prevents anyone from keeping God’s laws perfectly. You must “live by the faith of the Son of God,” as it says in Galatians 2: 20.

God has provided a way of salvation that depends on Jesus Christ, not on your own efforts. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior brings salvation in his crucifixion. In such salvation you will rise from the dead and be freed from sin.

This new life gives you the power to fight sin. You must guard against the temptation of using service, good deeds, charitable giving, and any other earthly effort as a substitute for faith. You cannot earn God’s favor. Believing in your own ability means you don’t fully trust in what Christ did on the cross.

By struggling to appropriate God’s power to change you (sanctification), you are not resting in God’s power to save you (justification). If deeds were the key to salvation, Jesus’ crucifixion would not have been unnecessary. He died on the cross to save you from yourself and gift to you salvation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 2

Turn From Your Sin, Do What is Right

Scripture: Ezekiel 33: 14-16

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shall surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

Scripture Commentary: Past good deeds will not save you if you are living in sin today!

We are all born into sin, but we are not born into sinners.

In this chapter Ezekiel is telling us that God is warning us about our sinful living. God is telling us He will forgive us of our sins if we repent and live the life that is wholeheartedly full of love and obedience to God.

Those who persist in rebelling against God, take warning. Do not think because you lived a Godly life in the past that you will be saved. We cannot live a portion of our lives for God and think that is good enough for God.

Don’t appear to be following God, if in your heart you are following yourself. We are weak, but God will give us the strength if you have the faith. God looks at what we are and will become, not what we have been. Past good deeds will not save you if you are living in sin today!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 33

Worship the Creator, The One True God

Scripture: Romans 1: 21-22,25

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him, not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.(21-22) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.(25)

Scripture Commentary: Creator vs. Creature: Who are you worshipping?

Are you worshipping God, our creator, or idols of your own making? Do you make up your own ideas of what your god should be and do; so your greed, hatred, envy, gossip and strife can manifest in your mind? This manifestation will grow to a point where you hate God and encourage others to follow your example.

God does not cause this steady decline toward evil. He gives you a choice. God permits you to experience the natural consequences of your sin. In worshipping the god you make, you are misrepresenting the One True God.

The True God is the first in your life. He will not lie or mislead you. We sinners must trust Christ alone to put us on the right path. When we worship the creature instead of the creator, we lose sight of our identity as followers of Jesus Christ, Our Creator.

Does life without God look like freedom to you? Freedom is having our Lord Jesus Christ in your life every step of the way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 1