God Released Her by Grace: Devotion for Thursday January 2, 2020

Devotion for Thursday January 2, 2020 

                    

Topic: God Released Her by Grace               

Text: John 8:1 – 11

When Jesus invited someone without sin to throw the first stone on this woman, the leaders slipped away one by one, from oldest to youngest. “Evidently the older men were more aware of their sins than the younger. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness. 

We all have a sinful nature and are desperately in need of forgiveness and transformation” so says Life Application Commentary. None of us would have been able to throw the first stone because we cannot claim that we have no sin. We would have also walked away. 

Actually no one could claim he or she is sinless so as to stone this woman. Jesus had exposed their hypocrisy and embarrassed them. 

They went back in shame to think of some other ways to trap Jesus. No one had accused the woman and Jesus kindly said to He would not condemn her either. 

Thus she was released from death by grace. She was not simply free to go her way. Jesus didn’t free her from the Pharisees, He want to free her from her sin, so he added, “Go and sin no more.” 

Jesus didn’t condemn her, but neither did he ignore or condone her behavior. Jesus told the woman to leave her life of sin. 

As we have been graciously brought into this New Year, we should not abuse the grace of God. He brought us into the New Year because He expects a change in us. Don’t think you deserve to be alive; it is by God’s grace. 

Live in gratitude like this woman having received God’s grace to enter into this year.

Food for Thought: How grateful are you to God for the grace to see this year?

Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:8

Prayer: Lord I am alive by your grace. Help me to live my life in gratitude for this singular honour.

Salvation Is Possible For All

Devotion for Thursday June 14, 2018

Sing Sacred Songs & Solos (Sankey) 471

Topic: Salvation Is Possible For All

Text: Luke 18:18 – 27                         

This rich young man mentioned in our bible reading came to Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus pointed out the significance of his use of the word “good” (Luke 18:19), stating that there is no one good. He sought for reassurance from Jesus; a way to ascertain that he had eternal life. He wanted Jesus to measure and grade his qualifications, or to give him some task he could do to be assured of his own immortality. So Jesus gave him a task, the one thing the rich man knew he could not do. The rich man’s problem was that he would not obey Jesus’ final command (Luke 18:22). His riches were only the surface problem; the real problem lay in the love he had for his wealth. This shows that riches are `not bad but love for it instead of God is the problem. “Then who in the world can be saved?” the bystanders asked. No one can be save, by his or her own achievements, was Jesus’ answer. “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.” Salvation cannot be earned—it is God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8-10). Have you doubted your salvation? Are you deep into sin and now you think your salvation is no more possible? God who offers us salvation is ever ready to save you and it is open to all who are willing to come to Him. All you need do is to pertinently come to Him and He will forgive you. Are you ready to do that today?

Food for Thought: Salvation cannot be earned—it is God’s gift

Memory verse: Luke 18:27

Prayer: Father, help me to sustain my salvation and not to lose it.

Faith And Confession Are Necessary in Salvation

Devotion for Thursday April 5, 2018

Topic: Faith And Confession Are Necessary in Salvation

Text: Romans 10:1 – 11

The Jews built on a false foundation, and refused to come to Christ for free salvation by faith as a result of not willing to open up for change. Their zeal was not enlightened, wise, or according to truth (Romans 10:2). Today, we have some people with great zeal in religion, and yet are blinded and hardened in sin. Right zeal is always found in accordance with truth and duty; holy in character and kind in spirit. The strictness of the law showed men their need of salvation by grace, through faith. It was based on this reason; Paul tried to point out that confession is necessary in salvation by grace which God has offered us in Christ (Romans 10:4ff). His position is “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9. He further expressed this truth in Romans 10:10. Two things are necessary for salvation; inward faith in Christ Jesus and public confession of that faith. Paul mentions them because both are necessary for salvation; the inward faith in Christ, and the outward confession of Him. It is based on the outward confession of sin that someone is baptized into the body of Christ. Some people often ask, “How do I become a Christian?” Romans 10:8 - 11 give us the answer: Salvation is as close as our lips and heart. People think that it is a complicated process, but it is not. If we believe in our heart and say with our mouth that Christ is the risen Lord, we will be saved. Have you received salvation? If not, this is your opportunity.

Sing the hymn: SS&S 493; Abu 175.

Food for Thought: The basic proof of our Christian faith is to believe in Christ (inward faith) and our confession that Jesus is Lord (outward faith).

Memory verse: Romans 10:9

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I have confessed that Jesus is my Lord, help me to abide by it all the days of my life.