GRACE GIVES US FREEDOM TO OBEY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 29, 2020.

SUBJECT : 

GRACE GIVES US FREEDOM TO OBEY!

Memory verse: 

“T

herefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:(Hebrews 12 vs 28.) 

READ: Romans 6 vs 15 - 19: 

6:15: 

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not!

6:16: Do You not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
6:17: But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which you were delivered.
6:18: And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
6:19: I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

INTIMATION:

God’s grace gives freedom to obey. It does not liberate one to sin. It does not become the license to ignore the will of the One who offered grace, but rather freedom to obey Him. Those who would not respond to the grace of God are those who do not understand that God meant that grace should stir up love and thanksgiving (Second Corinthians 4 vs 15). Those who understand grace work from a heart of appreciation for the salvation he had received as a result of God’s grace. 

Christians have freedom in Christ, but the definition of freedom in the context of Christianity is more narrow than the normal use of the word in common language. Christians use freedom as a tool for a life of exuberant service. It’s the foundation that God gives to us to reach our highest potential. Because God gives us freedom from religious rules and eternal guilt, we must not seek to indulge our own desires; instead, we should reach for the best God has for us. And our freedom should sing of power, joy, and love—accountable to God, devoted to others.

We are to love because He first loved us (First John 4 vs 19). We are to have mercy because He first extended mercy to us (James 2 vs 13). We are to work more abundantly because He worked abundantly toward us (First Corinthians 15 vs 10). If there is no love, mercy, and abundant work on the part of one who has been the recipient of the grace, then he or she has misunderstood grace. God’s grace is in vain in the life of the one who manifests no response to God.

Christians have been rescued by God out of the bondage of legal justification and are now free from the necessity of justification by law-keeping and meritorious deeds. Though the Christian may be set free from justification by law-keeping, he or she is not free from the law of Christ as a standard of moral behavior. Therefore, grace establishes law of Christ in the life of the one who walks in gratitude for the grace of God. Law is established because the obedient son cries out “Abba Father” in his realization that he cannot direct his own paths. He thus cries out for the guidance of the Father. The Father responds with direction, and thus, law is brought into the life of the one who responds by faith in the grace of God.

Those who lose their thanksgiving and gratitude for their salvation, often claim that God’s grace covers all sin regardless of the moral behavior of the believer. Such is a gross misunderstanding of grace. We cannot sin so that grace may abound (Romans 6 vs 1). Though the Christian may be set free from justification by law-keeping, he or she is not free from the law of Christ as a standard of moral behavior. Under grace, one’s love of God, not law, is the motivating factor that stimulates us to be subservient to the will of God. If one is not motivated to work and serve, he or she has no appreciation for the grace of God. 

Some would seek to use their liberty from law as an occasion for sin. Some would sin in order to supposedly increase the grace of God in their lives. Even today, some Christians minimize the sinfulness of sin, believing that how they live has little to do with their faith. But what a person truly believes will show up in how he or she acts. Those who truly have faith will show it by their deep respect for God and their sincere desire to live according to the principles in His Word.

Prayer: Abba Father, make all grace abound toward me, that I will always have all sufficiency in all things, and have an abundance for every good work in doing Your will, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

WHO IS GOD TO YOU

 WHO IS GOD TO YOU

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalms 18:2" 

Devotion : The opening scripture speaks so much about who God is to the Psalmist. The Psalmist was talking from a personal relationship or personal encounter with the LORD. He said the LORD is his rock, fortress, deliverer, God, strength, trust, buckler, horn of salvation, and high tower. Nine personal encounters produced nine attributes of God. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God", Matthew 16:15-16. Dearly beloved, have you had any personal encounter with the LORD? Who is Jesus Christ to you? Share your comments here!

REJOICE AND BE GLAD TODAY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2020.

SUBJECT : REJOICE AND BE GLAD TODAY!

Memory verse: 

“This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118 vs 24)

READ: Proverbs 27 vs 1; Isaiah 43 vs 18; Matthew 6 vs 34; Philippians 3 vs 13: 

Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Isaiah 43:18: Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

INTIMATION:

There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we’ve said. Yesterday is gone. We may have done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Because of our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on the past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now. 

The other day we shouldn’t worry about is tomorrow. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendor, or behind a mask of clouds but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. Because there is no guarantee on how tomorrow will turn out, one should be careful not to worry about it, but rather fully appreciate each day of his or her life. Obviously, we all plan for the future which is good. But living as if tomorrow is in your hands to control is wrong. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. 

In one of the passages we read today, Jesus is not here condemning one’s planning for the future. In order words, we must not add worries about the future to the responsibilities of today. Worry works against faith. We must assume through faith that all things work together for good (Roma8 vs 28). And thus, we must work by faith (Second Corinthians 5 vs 17). The more one walks by faith, the less worry there is in his or her life.

Now, we are left with “Today.” Every day is a privilege in the life of frail men. Therefore, one should live today to the fullest—leaving the past days behind where they belong, and allowing future to take its turn, while rejoicing for the privilege of seeing today. There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. When you don’t feel like rejoicing, tell God honestly how you truly feel. And as you talk to God in prayer, He will give you a reason to rejoice. God has given you this day to live and to serve Him—be glad! 

However, any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad, it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. Experience has shown that many things we worry about never come out as dreadful as we would have thought. 

Worry has its negative effects on us; it may damage your health, cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others, reduce your ability to trust in God. 

Prayer

: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of today. Give me the grace to live today to the fullest—rejoicing with gladness of heart for the privilege of being a partaker of Your gift of this day, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

FORGIVENESS AND GOOD HEALTH

 FORGIVENESS AND GOOD HEALTH

"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psalms 103:3" 

Devotion : Forgiveness and good health are directly proportional; in other words, forgiveness leads to healing or forgiveness brings about healing. God cannot heal you until He has forgiven you. This was demonstrated by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when He forgave the man sick of the palsy before ministering healing to the same, Matthew 9:2-7. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also exhorted us that when we do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will our heavenly Father forgive us our trespasses, Matthew 6:15. He said this in line with prayer, meaning that unforgiveness is a serious hindrance to prayer. A Christian who lives a lifestyle of forgiving others their sins and wrongs is a Christian whose prayers are always answered, and who lives in abundance of heavenly blessings. Dearly beloved, are you living a lifestyle of forgiving others their sins and wrongs? Share your comments and testimonies here!

WHOSE SLAVE ARE YOU?

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY OCTOBER 27, 2020.

SUBJECT : WHOSE SLAVE ARE YOU?

Memory verse: "Do You not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Romans 6 vs 16.)

READ: John 8 vs 34 - 36:

8:34: Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a salve of sin.
8:35: And a slave does not abide not in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
8:36: Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

INTIMATION:

A person is a slave to whatever controls him or her. 

Every person has a master—either God or sin. We are controlled by our 

masters and pattern ourselves after the master as slaves to the master. You are either a slave of sin that leads to death or a slave of Jesus that leads to righteousness. 

There is no middle ground. 

All people were firstly enslaved to sin, but not anymore. Thanks to Jesus for without Him we would all had been enslaved to sin with 

no choice, 

and the results would be guilt, suffering, and separation from God. With Jesus, however, we can now choose God as our master. Following Him, we can enjoy new life and learn how to work for Him. 

In sin every part of the body is vulnerable. In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service. Therefore, i

t is impossible to be neutral. 

It is the one to whom we offer our service that makes the difference. We are like lasers that can burn destructive holes in steel places or do delicate cataract surgery. If we refuse to follow God, we will follow our sinful desires and become enslaved to what our bodies want. If we submit our lives to Christ, He will free us from slavery to sin. Christ frees us to serve Him, a freedom that results to our ultimate good. 

People today are slaves to sin until they commit their lives to Christ, who alone can conquer sin’s power. When you accept Christ’s substitutionary work for us and make Him your Master, sin, pride, and fear no longer have any claim over you, just as a slave owner no longer has power over the slaves he has sold. The Bible says we became Christ’s slaves when we become Christians (Romans 6 vs 18), but this actually means we gain our freedom, because sin no longer controls us. If we refuse to follow God, we will follow our sinful desires and become enslaved to what our bodies want. If we submit our lives to Christ, He will free us from slavery to sin. Christ frees us to serve Him, a freedom that results to our ultimate good.

The central theme of the Bible is redemption. It means “to buy back” or “to save from captivity by paying a ransom.” One way to buy back a slave was to offer an equivalent or superior slave in exchange. That is the way God chose to buy us back from slavery of sin—He offered His Son in exchange for us. In the Old Testament God accepted symbolic offering of blood to cover sin. Jesus had not yet been sacrificed, so God accepted the life of an animal in place of the life of the sinner. When Jesus came, He substituted His perfect life for our sinful lives, paying the penalty for sin that we deserve. Thus He redeemed us from the power of sin and restored us to God. 

A Christian  is not someone who cannot sin but someone who is no longer a slave to sin. 

He or she belongs to God. 

Now Christians are bound to Christ, He is their master and gives them power to do the good rather than evil. Now, how can we keep this command to not let sin control the way we live, to not give in to its desires? We can take the following steps: (1) identify our personal weaknesses, (2) recognize the things that tempt us, (3) stay away from sources of temptation, (4) practice self-restraint, (5) consciously invest our time in good habits and service, and (6) lean in God’s strength and grace. 

Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, and dictating our actions. Jesus can free us from this slavery that keeps you from becoming the person God created you to be. If sin is restraining, mastering, or enslaving you, Jesus can break its power over your life. Now, a

re you still serving your first master, sin? Or have you chosen Christ? 

Will you give yourself completely to Christ, asking Him to put you to good use for His glory? It is when you turn to Christ, when you give up yourself to His personality, that you will begin to have a real personality of my own. 

Christians have presented themselves as slaves to God because they have been set free from sin (Matthew 6 vs 24; John 8 vs 34). Their expression of thanksgiving is seen in their desire to call on their Father to direct their lives. What is your attitude toward Christ, your Master? Our willingness to serve and obey Jesus Christ enables us to be useful and usable servants to do work for Him—work that really matters. Obedience begins as we renounce other masters, identify ourselves with Jesus, discover His will and live according to it, and consciously turn away from conflicting interests, even if these interests have been important to us in the past.

Prayer: Abba Father, I can’t thank You enough for Your gift of salvation. I completely surrender my life to You. Do with me whatever is pleasing to You. Give me the grace to serve a You aright in this life, and be crowned with Your glory of eternal life with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

FAITH AS SUBSTANCE AND EVIDENCE

 FAITH AS SUBSTANCE. AND EVIDENCE

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1" 

Devotion : Faith is a vital ingredient in our walk with our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6. Faith is a substance: faith can be apprehended by our heart/soul. Faith is evidence: the basis of faith is the Word of God/Holy Scriptures. Therefore, whatever you are believing should have the scriptures to support it; if it has no scripture to support it, then your faith is baseless and cannot be fulfilled by God and our Lord Jesus Christ. This should encourage the children of God to be students and teachers of the Holy Scriptures so that their hope in whatever they are believing can be done without any shadow of doubt or struggle. Dear believer in Christ, do you have scriptural evidence for what you are praying about/believing? If you have, then wait patiently for the answer. If you do not, then start searching the Holy Scriptures for it or else you are just wasting your time and energy. Share your comments here!

YOU ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY OCTOBER 26, 2020.

SUBJECT: YOU ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP! 

Memory verse: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 2 vs 4 - 10:

2:4: But God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

2:5: even when we are dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

2:6: and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2:7: that in ages to come He might show His exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2:9: not of works, lest anyone should boast.

2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

INTIMATION:

What assurances it gives to the heart when we come to know that the Father loves us even as He loved Jesus, that He is vitally interested in us as He was in His Son when He walked the earth. Consequently, He made one with Christ—we are the body of Christ, the church. The body starts with the head, consequently, the Church is headed by Jesus. In Colossians 1 vs 18, the Scripture says, "And He is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

Jesus was the first person ever born again. He was born twice. He was born of the Virgin Mary; then on the cross He was made sin with our sin, as our substitute. He was crucified on the cross. God, in accordance with His plan of redemption, accepted His death as a propitiation for mankind. Consequently, He satisfied the claims of justice, He was justified in spirit, made righteous in spirit, and made alive in spirit. This was the new birth. It was for this reason God said "....You are My Son, Today I have begotten You," (Acts 13 vs 33). God was speaking of the resurrected Jesus Christ. And when we confessed Jesus, and accepted His substitutionary work for us in redemption, we were recreated—made New Creation, and adopted as sons and daughters of God.

In the substitutionary work of Jesus, He was actually made sin with our sins, was forsaken of God, a curse because He had hung upon the tree. After meeting every demand of justice, in accordance with God's law, He was born again out of death, recreated and becomes a partaker of Eternal Life. Now He is called the firstborn out of death, the Head of the New Creation. It was that morning when Jesus was recreated that the whole church by faith came into being. In reality it began on the Day of Pentecost and it has continued until now. Our salvation is something only God can do. It is His powerful creative work in us. 

One of the most graphic pictures of what Jesus wrought for the believers is given in John's gospel, John 1 vs 16. The Amplified Version Bible gives a clearer picture of the verse: "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing  and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift."

The grace (unmerited favor) gives us the gifts of His love life, wisdom, His very being, and substance. We are the branch of the vine; we are partakers of the Divine Nature. His fullness here means His ability, His love, His righteousness, His utter completeness, and we have received them all. All the gifts and favors are now piled on us one after another, and all by His grace. We have been chosen by God as His very own, and His jewels, a special treasure to Him above all people, and we are to Him a kingdom of priests, as Christ has made us kings and priests to our God that we shall reign on the earth. 

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1 vs 3). We are blessed. We are rich in Him. We have His fullness. We are sufficient in His sufficiency. All that He is, we have. We are what He says we are. And the Father has told us that we are in the Beloved. The Father sees us as His own righteousness in Christ Jesus. "And you are complete in Him," and this completeness is over and above all that we can ask or think or desire. We have been called to represent Him to others. We are united with Christ as members of His body, and we join in His priestly work of reconciling God and people.

Prayer: Abba Father, I am complete in You, and have Your fullness in Christ. You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I am in You, and You in me. Strengthen me with might according to Your glorious power that I may be fruitful in every good work, worthy of Your calling and fully pleasing You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!