Our
salvation was paid for by the work of Christ on the cross. It is a free gift
from God for anyone willing to humbly admit their sins and truly submit to Him
throughout their lifetime (Romans 3:23; 6:23). This results in a relationship rather
than religion. Most of the world’s religions are based on teachings, which
require good works to procure salvation. Anyone caught up in religion is not
Born Again.
Nothing
in this world exists of its own volition. God started and maintains it all (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:17). No one can come to Christ without God’s Spirit drawing us,
and we are not perfected without the Spirit’s work in our soul (John 6:44; 2 Timothy 1:12). We do not wake up one morning and decide to go to church or
to live a holy life. Those desires come to us from God.
We can
never do enough good works to deserve heaven. Unless the Spirit of God leads our efforts, we have no hope of
achieving Godly results. Our union with Christ leads us to perform only those
acts, which His Spirit leads us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Regardless of our vocation in life, God will use us
in this calling to fulfill His work (Exodus 31:1-6). It is only as we choose to walk in God’s will that
we live in success.
We often disregard the
elementary teachings of the faith (Hebrews 6:1-2). We slowly slip back into a carnal lifestyle, and
are in danger of walking back into sin as a reprobate and denouncing the name
of Christ (Romans 1:28, 8:9).
However, if we start our day in prayer, acclaiming our faith in God’s faithfulness,
He will keep us steadily maturing in Christ.
We repent of our sin as
God convicts us, and we walk in His Spirit each moment of our day (Galatians
5:16,25). We connect with God through
the constant practice of prayer, rather than living according to our own plans.
Our life is then a demonstration of God’s Spirit
and power. The One who promises is able to minister through us and to use us to
deliver the lost world around us (2 Peter 3:9).
Prayer:
Father
God, thank You for sending Your son to pay the penalty of our sins, in order to
give us confidence to approach Your throne (Hebrews 4:16). We have a personal relationship
with You that transcends the body and soul and rebirths our spirit. We have
true fellowship with You, the creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1), every
moment of every day of our life.
Thought
for the Day:
The Bible is not a decoration for our home, but a source of life to our
body, soul and spirit.
