You Can’t Buy Salvation – It’s a Gift of God

Scripture: Acts: 8: 17-20

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus Christ is the gift of God; he paid the price for our salvation

Do you think that you, like Simon, can buy your way to heaven and God’s heart? Jesus Christ paid for the way to His Father. He paid the price to save us. Jesus died on the cross. He rose in three days with all the glory and ascended to heaven.

Do not think because everything on earth has a price that God also has a price that you can pay. You cannot pay the price to be with God by working hard and doing good things. Accepting Jesus Christ as your savior is the only way, and by doing this you will live the life God has prepared for you.

Do not think like Simon that you can buy the power of the Holy Ghost. No amount of money can buy salvation, forgiveness of sin, or God’s power.

Learn from Simon and his reaction (in verse 24) to what Peter told him. He said, “Pray to the Lord for me…”

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 8

Knowledge of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

Scripture: Proverbs 12: 1-2, 12,19

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will be condemned.(1, 2) The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.(12) The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Scripture Commentary: Learning God’s word will make you successful in life

Proverbs 12 is a list of dos and do-nots. Starting at verse one, it begins with whoso loveth instruction. Gaining knowledge by learning how to do something is good, but learning about God is to learn about wisdom.

When you have accepted Christ in your life, there is no end to what you can learn. Learning from God’s Word will make you successful in life, and your efforts will stand the test of time.

Do not be influenced by people who knowingly cheat and lie, and succeed by doing wickedness in life. Their success is short lived and not what our God teaches. These people’s sinful ways will twist the facts to support their way of life. In time they are likely to be trapped by their own lies.

Truth is always timely. It applies today and in the future because it is connected with God’s unchanging character. Think for a moment about the centuries that have passed since these proverbs were written. The Bible has withstood because our God is truth.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Proverbs Chapter 12

I Can Do All Things Through Christ

Scripture: Philippians 4:19-20, 23

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. A-men!(19-20) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.(20)

(To thePhilippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.)

Scripture Commentary: You have everything you need – you can do anything through Christ

You can do anything Christ-like through God. However, this doesn’t mean superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard for our fellow man.

The power God has given you is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that will arise in doing his work. Be like Paul and be content and God will show you the way. Be focused on what you are supposed to do, not what you feel you should do.

Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful, because he followed God’s teachings. Detach yourself from worldly things, so you can concentrate on God as he directs your path. We can trust that God will always meet our needs.

Whatever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death. By trusting in Christ our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provisions and power to live for him. We can live confidently for him because we have “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” with us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Philippians Chapter 4

Do Not Be Separated From God

Scripture: Isaiah 59: 1-2, 21

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.(1,2) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.(21)

Scripture Commentary: Sin separates us from God

Our Lord and Savior in this chapter tells us that he hears all, sees all and knows all. He also tells us He forgives us and loves us. His arms are not too short that He cannot protect from harm, His ears are not deaf that He cannot hear our cry. But we have separated ourselves from Him when we sin against Him.

Sin separates us from God. He cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it doesn’t matter. Our sinful ways form a wall of isolation between us and God.

This angers God and forces him to look away from us. If you die with your sins unforgiven, you will be separated from God – you will have placed yourself in satin’s hands.

God wants you to be with Him forever, but he cannot be with you unless you want the same. You must change and ask His forgiveness.

Have you confessed your sin to Him? Do this now, before it is too late.

Feel the love and warmth of His Holy Spirit fall upon you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 59

Find Security In God’s Plan: See What is Right

Scripture: Isaiah 30: 10-14

They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”

Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.”

Scripture Commentary: Welcome what is right even if it makes you uncomfortable

Some people in Judah may have sought refuge in Egypt. In their desire to find security, they wanted to hear only good news. They did not welcome the truth from God’s prophets.

Often the truth makes us uncomfortable. We prefer lies and illusions when they make us feel more secure.

It is much better to face reality than to live a lie. Don’t settle for something that makes you feel comfortable but is not true. God expects a lot from us, and many times following him can be painful but He always acts out of His love for us.

Next time you go through a difficult time, try to appreciate the experience and grow from it, learning what God wants to teach you. God may be showing you His love by patiently walking with you through adversity.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 30

The Productive Branch Bears Fruit

Scripture: John 15: 1-4

I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Scripture Commentary: God prunes the branch so that it bears great fruit

Are we carrying old, ungodly material with us (i.e., things that we know we should have put out of our lives a long time ago)? Be honest with yourself and let Jesus purge those things so that you can be fruitful for God. When you let go, you will become a fruitful, and not an unproductive, branch.

Jesus will cut away the unproductive parts so the productive parts can carry his Word. Do not be the part that has to be cut off and burned in the fire.

We are not perfect. God sometimes disciplines us to strengthen our character and faith, so the part of us that is infected would not infect the whole body. We will come across blockers In our walk who will try to stop us from living out God’s Word.

Remember Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to teach us and to show us the way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 15

Take Shelter in the Lord in Every Storm

Scripture: Psalms 55: 1-8

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest – I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

Scripture Commentary: God is our shelter in every storm

More than likely David wrote this psalm during the time of Absalom’s rebellion and Ahithophel’s betrayal. Even those who are especially close to God, as David was, have moments when they cry out to the Lord for shelter from their pressures and problems.

We are plagued by internal problems in our homes, cities, and churches. Violence, strife, malice, abuse, destruction, threats, and lies appear to be all around us. As a result, we also feel the need to cry out to the Lord to shelter us.

Although a constant threat, external enemies are not nearly as dangerous as the corruption inside. Even today, churches often look to defend themselves against trouble from the sinful world while they fail to see that their own sins are causing their troubles.

Nothing hurts more than a wound from a friend. Even though it hurts, there may be times when friends will need to lovingly confront you in order to help you. Your real friends will stick by you, especially in times of trouble, and will help bring healing, love, acceptance, and understanding.

What kind friend are you? Don’t betray those you love.

God is our helper, protector, and friend.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 55

Do Not Continue in Sin – You Have Been Set Free

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 12, 14, 18, 22

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?(1) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye shall obey it in the lusts thereof.(12) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.(14) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(18) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.(22)

Scripture Commentary: Do not continue in sin; put your life in the Lord’s hands

Now that our Lord Jesus Christ has removed the shackles of death and sin from you, how does it feel? If you do not know, then you are still living your old sinful life. Do not continue in sin.

If you think because you were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ that you are one of his, but you still live your old life, you are wrong. The body we inherited from Adam is the rebellious, sin-loving body. Let that sin-loving body go.

Set yourself free to do God’s work by letting your old sinful nature die once and for all. Let the Spirit of God grow in you and let the weak flesh melt away.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are acquitted. Put your life in His Hands and you will no longer be a slave to sin. If you truly do this you are now resurrected into a new life with Christ and have an unbroken fellowship with God, and freedom from sin’s hold on you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 6

Let God Give You A New Heart

Scripture: Ezekiel 36: 25-27

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Scripture Commentary: God can give you a new heart to follow Him

In these verses Ezekiel felt that he was preaching to dead people. It’s the same today when people in and out of churches hear the Word but do not listen to what the Word is saying.

We look for things on our terms and time. Jesus told his disciples in John 8: 47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

God is telling Ezekiel if he will give the people a new heart, not only physically but also spiritually. With a new spiritual heart you will truly follow God and not man.

If you become so callous in your ways, then you have lost all sensitivity to sin. Why try to patch your old self? Let God make you new again.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 36
John Chapter 8

What is Your Purpose?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 22

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.(1) Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that in his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Scripture Commentary:

What would you say is your purpose in life? Is it to make money or to provide for yourself and/or your family? Or is it to purchase things you want?

Purpose in life starts with whom we know; not what we have, what we think, or what we know. It is impossible to fulfill your God-given purpose without knowing God. God is first place in your life.

We have a spiritual thirst and an eternal value, and nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy the thirst. If wealth, power, and status mean nothing to God, why do you attribute so much importance to them and so much honor to those who possess them?

Do not let material possessions be your purpose in life. What you have in your heart and what you do in your Godly way of living matters to God and endures for eternity.

In this chapter Solomon shows us the cycles of our lives and its the changes These cycles are not to be barriers, but rather opportunities to discover that without God, life’s problems have no lasting solutions. Jesus Christ is the only answer.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3