Devotion
Saved By Grace
Chipo Biti
It is by grace you have been saved.
A timely reminder that we should always be conscious of. My heart falls whenever I come across Christians who are caught up in their own pride, believing that their righteousness within their personal capacity is the reason why they have received salvation. One of the biggest mistakes you could ever make, as a Christian, is to think that you are able to justify yourselves according to your own works. There is a reason why Jesus had to come to earth. No matter how many times man had tried to fulfill the standards of the Law, they could not do it. They could not be righteous on their own. Every time they tried to, sin would interfere and their actions would be rendered ineffective.
God didn't wait for us to show signs of perfection before He sent his son, Jesus Christ to the earth. No. When man was drowning in their sin, as far away from God as possible, Christ came to the earth. When human beings were nothing but dead souls walking, Jesus Christ came to the earth. He was not moved by what He saw. The state of man did not make him shout in hopeless angst.
Jesus knew what He was coming to face. He knew that He would encounter ignorance. He knew that He would encounter people who would not understand anything He was saying. He knew that He was going to be beaten, mocked, and scorned. He knew that He was going to be crucified on the cross.
Jesus knew all of this but it did not stop Him from fulfilling God's will. Even in Gethsemane, where He wept as He thought of what He was about to face, Jesus rose up and chose to continue with the mission.
He knew that the fate of mankind was dependent on His sacrifice and He counted us worth the pain. God saw us as worth sacrificing His Son, for our sake. We did nothing to merit it. We did nothing to deserve it. We deserved the damnation that was headed our way, but God didn't focus on that.
He focused on saving us so that we could be reconciled to Him. We, as His children, and He as our Father.
Prayer
That is what it means to be saved by grace.
We did not deserve any of the Father's love, but He gave it to us anyway because He loved - and still loves - us that much.
Devotion
Give Good Example
Frances Taylor
If we ever needed a reminder of how important it is to practice what we preach, this is it. Not only are we encouraged to help others, but we are also warned about giving bad example or leading others, particularly children, away from the Lord.
I have spoken to many people who say that they became a Christian because of the example of people in their family, friends or strangers whose joy is so great they want a part of it. I also know people who have turned away from the faith they once had because they consider those who proclaim themselves to be Christian are hypocrites. Most people don't start out wanting to be Christians because of doctrine. They are influenced one way or another by people. Are you someone whose life exhibits the joy of knowing Jesus and his saving power? Am I? Do your actions give testimony to your beliefs? A person can go to church each week, Bible classes during the week and give every impression of being a devout follower of ...
Morning Prayer
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Inspiration
There is nothing at all – nothing on the earth and nothing in the spiritual realms – that can separate us from the love of Christ. No matter what any person or principality tries to do in our lives, they will never be able to quash the love Christ has for us. The love God has for us is eternal – it is here to stay for good.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for the love that you have for me. Thank you, Lord, that this love will never leave me and it will never forsake me. No matter what anyone tries, or whatever may come my way, Lord, I thank you that your love will always be with me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Inspiration
As Christians, we know that we find peace in God. And today, we’re reminded that He promises peace to His people. But we have to do our part, which is listening. It’s when we turn away from wisdom and pursue foolish and selfish endeavors that peace eludes us. But when we turn our ears to His wisdom, He leads us on the path to peace.
Prayer
God, in You I have received peace that passes understanding. Speak Your wisdom to me, and teach me to not be distracted by my own foolish ambitions. Give me ears to hear You so that I may remain close to You and move in Your peace wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, amen.
