salvation by faith alone

This weekend we finished chapter 9 in our walk through Romans; it also included the first few verses of chapter 10. So in today’s devotion I will hit some of the highlights of that message. It centered around being a Christian has everything to do with faith and God seeking us and not living by the law and mankind seeking to make themselves right before God.

Romans 10:4 NLT

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Christ did for us what we can not do for ourselves, yet so many people seek other ways to be made right with God and to connect to God. Often that seeking God is through the law or man made rules.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Faith alone because of God’s grace. And His grace is embodied in Jesus!

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 NLT

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

There is one of the tough ones as we know and see that Christ was our gift and sacrifice. Not all accept Jesus. That is a problem.

Ephesians 1:5,9 NLT

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure… God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.

What we pursue and who we pursue are important. Anything other than Jesus is the wrong pursuit. The wrong pursuit makes Jesus look like a stumbling block rather than the one who is pursuing us and seeking to redeem us.

Romans 9:33 NLT

God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

Some people stumble over Jesus, who is the rock, while others find Him to be our rock of salvation. Which is He for you?

Isaiah 28:16 NLT

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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