Who Can Be Forgiven, Who Can Have Salvation?

Scripture:
Galatians 1:11-17 (NIV)

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Devotional:

Just recently I had a conversation with a friend speaking about salvation.  We were talking about certain people accepting Christ literally at the last second of their lives.  Not just regular people but those like Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden.  What if these truly evil men who committed horrible atrocities at the last minute of their lives truly repented of their sins?  Paul was walking down a similar path.  He persecuted Christians and did everything in His power to wipe out Christianity from the face of the earth.  What if His life hadn’t changed on that fateful walk to Damascus?  How different things would have been.  

The truth of the matter is that each and every person has the means to going to Heaven.  The way is simple and once accepted forgiveness is given.  It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done.  The thought of someone who does horrible evil acts all their lives going to heaven is very disturbing to us.  We can only see the injustice in it.  

I have a couple of thoughts on this though.  One, look at all they missed out on.  Look at all the blessings they lived without.  Look at the torn lives they lived.  Next, even though they would go to heaven they still have to bow before the throne of God.      The last thought I have is God does love them just as much as He loves you, and me.  He is overjoyed that they finally came around, we should be too.  God doesn’t want any of His children to remain lost.  That does include people like Hitler, Saddam, Osama, and others like them.  It includes people like Dahmer and Bundy.  God does want them to come to know and accept Christ in their hearts just as much as He wants us.

After Damascus Paul must have had a hard time.  He had a bad stigma to overcome.  Because he did many lives have been changed over the course of time.  Salvation is not for the righteous only.  Salvation isn’t for just a few select.  It is open to everyone.  We might not like it but aren’t you glad Salvation is freely given to all?  Otherwise you just might not qualify.  After all, none of us deserve salvation.  God makes the offer to any and everyone.  

You never know who God will choose to use.  You never know whose life will be irrecoverably changed.  Then they just might change the world too.  It doesn’t matter if we doubt.  God knows the truth, and remember the truth will set you free…

(I hope what I have written is truly the right words to say today.  I almost didn't write and share my thoughts today.  I pray that God's words have flowed through me into this posting...)

Trinkets For Treasure

Scripture:
Luke 18:18-30 (ESV)

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Devotional:

“…Why do you call me good?  No one is good except God alone.” Luke 18:19 (ESV) Jesus starts of asking the question, why do you call me good.  He then tells the ruler that only God is good.  Here we are given a clue to who Jesus is.  Later Jesus ends verse 22 with “…One thing you still lack.  Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

What makes it so hard to let go of the things of the world?  We seek wealth, fame, and fortune.  The more power you have the higher your success.  Yet Jesus tells us to let it all go.  Matthew 6:24 (NASB) states:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

So the question to ask is who do you serve?  If we are serving God, then we should want to leave worldly things behind.  If we serve the world, then all we have is what is here and now.  It is difficult to let go of what is known for something unknown.  

I heard a story once about a little girl who wanted a toy pearl necklace.  She got her necklace and loved it so much.  She didn’t want to ever give it up.  One night when the father was putting her to bed he asked her if she loved him.  She answered yes.  He then asked for her necklace.  She couldn’t let it go.  This went on for several nights.  How often do we hear God asking us if we love Him?  Obviously we answer yes Lord I love You.  Then God asks us to give something precious up.  How many times do we fail to let go?  We just cannot bring ourselves to it.  Finally one night when the father asks the questions she hesitantly gives it to him.  Without missing a beat he hands her a real pearl necklace identical to the toy one.  How much more valuable is the real necklace?  How much more will the little girl love it over the cheap toy?  She didn’t know what she was going to receive until she gave up what she had.  

We will not know what God has in mind for us until we are ready to give up what we have.  Like the real pearl necklace our treasures in heaven are far more valuable than what we can manage here on earth.  There are three thoughts I have from today’ scripture.  The first is that Jesus clarified that He is the Son of God.  Second thought is who are we serving?  The answer to that will determine what we are willing to let go, even for the unknown.  Third and finally we cannot receive the greater treasures from God until we give up the trinkets of the world.  God will bless us and give to us.  We just have to be willing to give it all up.  Even though He gives it to us we are only stewards of what is given.  In the end it all belongs to Him anyway.

The Power of Prayer

Scripture:
James 5:16 (NASB)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Devotional:

There are times in my life when it seems my prayers go unanswered.  As a matter of fact Garth Brooks sings a song Unanswered Prayers.  In it he is thanking God for all the unanswered prayers in his life.  He states in the song that those unanswered prayers were some of the best gifts God gave him.  There are several of those so called unanswered prayers I am thankful for.

What about the other prayers?  Are our prayers going unanswered because of something in us?  James 5:16 starts out by telling us to confess our sins.  Sin can block our prayers in both directions.  Sometimes we get in our own way when we pray.  Confessing of our sin and repenting doesn’t mean we are completely sinless thereafter.  Until we are with Christ in heaven we will continue to sin.  This does not mean we can purposefully sin.  No we must strive to be sin free in all we do and where we go.  But unconfessed sins become burdens in our lives.  We weigh ourselves down until we become ineffective.  Think of it like this.  For every unconfessed sin we carry a fist sized rock.  One rock doesn’t seem to be a big deal.  However, after time and with more rocks added to the pile eventually we will not be able to lift the load.  Confessing our sins removes the rocks.  We become cleansed and renewed.

The next thought I have, is what are we praying for?  Is what I am praying for in line with God’s will?  Am I praying for selfish reasons, or gains?  If your child asks for something to eat, you are likely to give them something.  If however, they just want candy and they ask for candy instead of something nutritious you may not give it to them.  Instead you might give them something healthy, if anything.  After all it might be too close to supper time.  If we ask God for something that is in His will we will receive what we ask for.  If not then the answer might be a no or instead how about this.  

The power of prayer can change the world.  By praying for one another we offer up strength, guidance, and support.  Intercessory prayers will directly affect those you pray for.  By praying for one another there is healing, comfort, and direct effects.  We pray for healing, or for God to be with someone going through tough times.  We pray for those going through legal battles.  We pray for those whose finances are in trouble.  We pray for…  Those prayers are answered and lives are changed.  Without them the person might not be healed, or things might go badly.  God will intervene and step in.  He will send the Holy Spirit.  He will make a difference.  He will answer all prayers.

Are you praying?  Are your prayers being answered?  True power comes through prayer.  Through our prayers we can change the world.  We can change lives.  We can make a difference…

Finding Joy

Scripture:
Psalm 100 (NASB)

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His loving kindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Devotional:

One of my current struggles is seeking joy in my current job.  I know God has placed me where I am at.  I know I am currently where He wants me to be.  Yet at the same time I am letting current circumstances bring me down.  My focus seems to be on the negative, or things I don’t like.  I see all the bad and little of the good.  I think what is wrong with me, I am supposed to be joyful and serve God with gladness.

In an attempt to turn things around I start to list all the positive or good things about my job.  I think how thankful I am to have a job.  I am able to pay the bills.  There are attributes in my job that are not so bad.  I can have a huge impact for God where I am working.  This seems to work for a while, and then I start slumming again.

What went wrong?  Why can’t I maintain the joy I know I should have?  A simple answer that can also be hard when surrounded with worldly views.  I need to shift my focus.  I am focusing on worldly views.  I focus on my circumstances.  I focus on how I can change things.  

My focus is not where it should be.  I need to shift, and keep, my focus on God.  God is faithful.  He will never forsake us.  God is loving, kind, and very merciful.  I find when I do focus on Him all the other stuff doesn’t seem to matter so much.  It isn’t what is going on around me or what can I do to change it.  There comes an acceptance, I am where He wants me.  He is with me and will protect, guide, and provide.  When my focus is on Christ those things that get me down do not seem so bad.  The good in where I am easily surface.  Then true joy in where I am springs forth.

No One Understands

Scripture:
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

Devotional:

Have you ever felt that no one understands what you are going through?  Has the thoughts of being all alone entered your mind more than once?  Sometimes we forget that we are not really alone.  There is someone who really does understand what we are going through and what we experience.  

Jesus became fully human in order to experience life as we do.  He was tempted just the same as we are.  Jesus dealt with grief, loss of loved ones, and other sadness.  He also felt joy and happiness.  He shared intimate moments with His closest friends and disciples.  The only thing Jesus didn’t experience was sin.  Yet He paid the price of all sin.  So He even knows the experience of suffering the consequences of sin.

The next time you feel alone or that no one understands just remember Jesus does.  God sends people into our lives to be with us and to help us.  Something you experience today may help you in helping someone else tomorrow.  As we receive grace let us extend grace. You do not have to bear your burdens alone.  That is your choice.    Allow Christ to work in your life.  Allow Him to use you to work in someone else’s life.  We are not alone, not only do we have Christ but we have each other.