'grace' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
Romans 5:1-5… “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand;” vss. 1-2a Sometimes we believers get our slogans confused, and we wonder things like, are we “justified by grace through faith,” or is it “justified by faith through grace?” And really it doesn’t make any difference which phrase we’ve learned–both contain the same essential truth about our relationship to God. But…
Daily Devotions
Romans 4: 13-17… “If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither isthere violation.” vss. 14-15 There is much to be said for operating under the rule of law in our world. It’s whatenables businesses to flourish and governments to be trusted. Without it marketsare quickly taken over by cartels and politicians rake in billions…
Daily Devotions
Romans 4: 1-5… “But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.” vs. 5 Most people have a pretty good sense of how they have lived their lives. Oh, we forget some things, but in general we know exactly what we have done and what we have not done, and we’re particularly aware of our shortcomings. That’s why many folks find it really hard to believe that they are worthy in…
Daily Devotions
Romans 5:12-19… “For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” vs 19 While we may not agree with Paul’s interpretation of Genesis 3, we have to rejoice in the way he uses the story to proclaim the gospel of grace. His logic is impeccable. As in Adam the many were made sinners, in Jesus Christ the many are made righteous. He recognized that…
Daily Devotions
Exodus 24:12-18… “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’” vs. 12 For the Israelites Moses was the man! According to their tradition, he had not only led them out of the bondage of Egypt, but God had chosen him to give them the law and the commandments at Mt. Sinai.…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 5:13-16… “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.” vss. 14-15 Jesus had not come to bring a new law. Rather he had come to call disciples and to bless them with grace and truth. They would be the heralds of the kingdom of peace that…
Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians 1:1-4… “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus…” vss. 3-4 Paul had worked as a tentmaker in Corinth for about 18 months during his second missionary journey. During that time he had also proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ in every venue that was open to him. He…
Daily Devotions
Jeremiah 31:7-9… “See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labour, together; a great company, they shall return here.” vs. 8 Jeremiah was a hard-nosed prophet, and as we read his book we get an earful of judgment. The Lord was not pleased with the faithlessness of Israel and Judea. They were…
Daily Devotions
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” vs. 33 Jeremiah 31:31-34 During the first part of his ministry Jeremiah had a message of doom for the rulers of Judah, saying that if they continued the course they were following, destruction…
Daily Devotions
For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” vs. 6 2 Timothy 1:6-14 This verse will remind many believers of their confirmation day, that ritual in which confirmands receive the laying on of hands as they affirm their baptisms. The pastor places both…
Daily Devotions
Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’” vss. 3a, 4 Luke 16:1-9 Money talks! We all know it. Jesus knew it too. In this parable he shows how the dishonest steward used the power of money to secure his uncertain future. Even if he got…
Daily Devotions
This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” vss. 3-4 1 Timothy 2:3-7 The early Christians had no problem praying for the leaders of the Empire because they believed that God desired everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. There were no exceptions! Sometimes in our efforts to combat the brokenness of this world we…