After Grace

Scripture:
Romans 6:1-15 (NIV)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. 

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

Devotional:

Miss conceptions can be very dangerous.  When I was younger I thought that once I was saved all the hardships would just go away.  I thought sin would no longer be an issue.  I believe this is an issue that some believers and nonbelievers struggle with.  After all we are told that there is nothing at all we can do to earn our way into heaven.  It is a free gift from God through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Some believe that once we are saved we no longer have to struggle in this life.  The truth is that we do continue to struggle.  We have to work our faith just as we have to work the muscles in our bodies.

Even as Christians we are going to face hardships.  We have fears, troubles, and worries that will plague us if we allow them to.  If fact Jesus tells us we must take up our cross if we are to follow him.  To me that doesn’t sound like an easy road.  Something I have learned over the years is Satan’s attacks.  He pretty much will leave those who do not believe in Christ alone.  In fact he will even leave the so called “Sunday” Christian alone.  You know the type.  The Christian who goes to church on Sunday morning but by Monday he places God in the back seat of his life.  Satan has nothing to worry about those people.  After all they are not advancing the kingdom of heaven here on earth.  In fact in some cases they turn people away from Christianity.  Satan will attack those few believers who are on fire for Christ.  They are the ones who hunger for God’s word.  They are anxious to get out and win souls for Christ.  These people are the ones that Satan fears and wants to stop.  

Life after Grace is not a bed of roses.  We must continue to “Good Fight” as Paul puts it.  We cannot sit back relax and keep on sinning.  There is an expectation placed upon us that we must keep.  God has work for each of us.  As James puts it in James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Is Salvation Really for Everyone?

Scripture:
Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 

“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. 

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” 

Devotional:

After the devotional No Work Required I had a couple of comments or questions about it.  So I think that I am going to attempt to expand a little on yesterday’s devotional thoughts.  I will do so in today’s devotional and tomorrows.

Two thoughts to cover today are God’s word and is salvation truly for anyone.  Growing up I had wondered about those who lived their lives apart from God, specifically criminals.  Are they saved if they confess Christ as their savior on their death beds?  Before answering this we must realize and understand that the Bible is God’s word.  Either the Bible is completely true and is the truth, or it is a fairytale full of lies, myths and just stories.   As for me I will state that I do know that the entire Bible is truth and the word of God.  Yes men wrote it but God inspired what is written and directed their thoughts.  Much as I feel He guides my writing these devotionals, only they are one hundred percent right.  Are there contradictions in the Bible, no.  Are there differences in the different versions, yes.  However, they are all telling the same thing with the same meanings behind them.  In John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”  

If you read today’s scripture verse Matthew 20:1-16 it is the parable about the workers in the vineyard.  Each man who worked in the fields received the same pay.  The cost of salvation is the same for each person.  The price doesn’t change.  It is still a free gift to us, we cannot pay the price.  Jesus paid the price of all sin for any and everyone.  The only time it is too late to receive salvation is after your life here on earth ends.  Salvation is even offered to those on their death bed.  As long as they truly repent and accept Christ as Lord and Savior, see John 3:16-18.  It may not seem fair but there are several things to look at.  One, look how much they missed on in this life.  They were left out of a lot of blessings from God.  They did not have His peace through this life, nor hope and they didn't accept His love.  Next what are their rewards in heaven?  Jesus clearly tells us that we as Christians are to store our treasures in Heaven.  They have not had the time to build any.  As we all know you cannot take it with you when you go.  What will we have in heaven?  I don’t know but I know it will be wonderful.  Who gets what and how much of it?  Again I don’t know but I do know we will not want or need for anything.  This brings us to tomorrow’s devotional thought.  Now that I am saved why is it still so hard?

No Works Required

Scripture:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Devotional:

What does it take to be saved?  How hard do we have to work, and for how long?  What must be done in order to earn salvation?  I once heard a comedian put salvation in terms of washing.  We think we have to change our ways or clean up our act in order to be accepted by Christ.  Let me ask a question.  How many people wash up before they go take a bath or shower?  None of us, that is what the shower is for.  We don’t stand at the sink to wash our face and hands to jump in the shower.  The reason for the shower is so that we can cleanse our entire body.  

Salvation is freely given, no works required.  Jesus shed His blood so that we may be completely cleansed by His sacrifice.  I once told some teenagers that the only action required by them to be saved is to accept the free gift of Grace.  There are no works or any prerequisites in order to receive Grace.  We do not have to change our ways in order to be saved.  We do not have to mend ourselves in order for Christ to come into our hearts.  Works or actions do not bring about Grace.  Instead, it is through the transformation we receive that changes us.  We are cleansed, washed and made new through Christ our Lord and Savior.  Nothing we can do can earn what He freely gives. 

All I Have

Scripture:
Philippians 3:1-11 (NIV)

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 

Devotional:

What is the most valuable thing you have?  What is it you place the most importance in?  Are you will you willing to give it all up for Christ?  Paul indicated that he gave everything up for Christ.  His most valuable possessions or “gains” are nothing; they were insignificant in comparison to Christ.  He gained righteousness through Christ.  He gained something that had a value a hundred times and more than the most valuable passion in this world.

What are you holding onto that keeps you from the most valued prize in all eternity?  Are you willing to give it all up for Christ?  Are you found and made worthy and righteous through Christ?  We are born into this world with nothing.  We will leave the same way.  We cannot take any of the worldly possessions, status, and prestige we gain with us.   In the end we only have that which Christ has given us, Grace.  Through Christ we are made righteous and worthy.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have salvation, the most valuable gift you can ever receive.  What good is gold?  What good is prestige, power, and worldly possessions?  In the end they are all left behind.  As mighty as we think we are, we are nothing compared to Christ.  The ant is insignificant to a person.  Look how tiny the ant is, helpless in comparison.  We are insignificant and helpless in comparison to Jesus.  We are nothing without Him.  It is through Him that we are able to do great things.  It is through Him that we are made worthy…  All I have I consider a loss so that I might gain through Christ…

Worthless

Scripture:
1 Samuel 16:6-13 (NASB)

When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 

So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Devotional:

If you have ever gone shopping for a car you know you cannot trust what the outside of the car looks like.  Unless you are a mechanic you can look at the car, check different things on it.  You look under the hood and underneath it.  You want to make sure it is a good solid dependable car.  You look into the history of the car making sure there were no accidents.  Another item to take note on is whether it has repeated repairs on the same parts.  For example does it go through transmissions or wear out the brakes really fast.  My parents onetime had a Fiat X-19.  It was a cute little two seater.  However, it went through brakes constantly, worse than most cars.  When buying a car you know what to look for and what to avoid.  But it wasn’t always like that.  When you were young, maybe even just a kid you looked at a car and thought it was cool.  You fell in love with the way it looked.  Never mind how it handled or was good on gas.  You fell in love with a car because you liked the way it looked and on the outside it was perfect.

How many times do we look at people the same way?  We see the surface and think they are useless or worthless.  Man is that person is a real bum.  She is no good, nothing but trouble.  Everyone looked at David as a small “ruddy boy.”  Surely he isn’t the one God would choose.  After all look at Saul in comparison.  God, however, chose to look beyond the physical appearances of David.  He looked deep into David.  God found David’s worth, which went deeper than outward appearances.  The good news for all of us is God does the same for us.  He looks past our outward appearances.  He looks past our failures and limitations.  He sees us for who we really are.  As a matter of fact He uses our weaknesses for His greater good.  God looks at the total package and comes up with a value so high that He sent His Son to redeem us.  The next time you think you are worthless or no good remember that God doesn’t think so.  He also doesn’t think that person you think is worthless is either…

Lifting The Load

Scripture:
2 Corinthians 1:6-11 (NIV)

If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 

Devotional:

Most of us have been through difficult times.  Some are worse than others.  I look at what I am going through and think that it is really difficult.  There are times when I struggle with faith and ask why.  At times I begin to doubt and wonder why I even try.  There have been times in my life when I knew I couldn’t make it through.  In these times I need God the most.  It is when it is most difficult and cannot manage it that I have to rely on Him.  There have been times that I couldn’t manage but faith in Christ saw me through.  Jesus was with me helping me through.

Sometimes when I think my life is so bad He gives me a little nudge.  He shows me that things could be worse.  I look at what someone else is going through and see that things aren’t so bad.  I wonder how they could possibly get through that.  They too are relying on Christ to get through the night.  Sometimes what we are experiencing might not seem as bad as what others go through.  Don’t criticize yourself too much.  They just might be looking at you wondering how it is that you are coping with your situation.  I have two thoughts that come to mind about our troubles.  One of them is that my grass really is greener than theirs.  What I am dealing with really isn’t as bad as what someone else has dealt with.  The other, almost contrary, thought is that what I might be going through doesn’t seem as bad to me as what others are going through.  They in turn, look back at me wondering how I can manage what I am going through.  To them what I am dealing with is worse than what they are dealing with.  Our circumstances may be bad and difficult to handle.  God helps us through them and gives us what we need to make it through if we just trust and rely on Him.  So our burdens become lighter.  Other people may not see how much of our load Jesus is actually carrying.  They see the entire weight of it resting upon our shoulders.  The same is for us.  We see the entire burden resting on their shoulders and wonder how they can manage.  When in reality Jesus is lifting ninety percent of it off their shoulders.

One last thought to ponder.  One of the ways to lighten our load is to share it.  We must be willing to let go and receive help.  We also have to be willing to help lift someone else’s burden…