“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
Years ago I heard of a prankster who somehow obtained keys to all the stores in a major downtown area. When the merchants opened their stores early the next morning they discovered that all the price tags in the store windows where the merchandise was displayed had been switched. Cheap items had expensive price tags and expensive items had cheap price tags.
The devil has played a huge but very serious prank on the world. The blood of Jesus Christ, called “precious” in the Bible, is regarded as of little worth. He would want us to believe that materialism, pleasures and sporting events are of greater worth than salvation in Jesus, true praise and worship of the Son of God. The devil would have us believe that we are better off serving ourselves than serving the Lord. He attempts to get folks to believe everyone is going to heaven and he says there is no such place as hell.
But, you know better. Calling evil good and good evil and putting darkness for light and light for darkness is not Godly. It is Satanic. The ultimate risk is not worth taking.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
The Pure Word of God
“Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
(Proverbs 30:5-6)
Many years ago, when I was a child, we would go to a large public spring to get fresh water for drinking and cooking. Many of our neighbors used water from that spring. I have been by the old spring in recent years. I would not drink any of that water today. Houses have been built on land above the spring. The houses have septic tanks with their accompanying lateral lines oozing waste water into the soil and ultimately into the spring water below.
Every word of God is pure. It will show us the way of salvation in Christ Jesus. It will sustain us in hard times. It will give us hope for the future. It will teach us right doctrines and tell us how to live with our mates, how to love, train and care for our children and how to live in society.
When some false prophet or cult adds to the Bible it is like pouring raw sewage into fresh clean water. It is not fit for human consumption although it may look harmless.
(Proverbs 30:5-6)
Many years ago, when I was a child, we would go to a large public spring to get fresh water for drinking and cooking. Many of our neighbors used water from that spring. I have been by the old spring in recent years. I would not drink any of that water today. Houses have been built on land above the spring. The houses have septic tanks with their accompanying lateral lines oozing waste water into the soil and ultimately into the spring water below.
Every word of God is pure. It will show us the way of salvation in Christ Jesus. It will sustain us in hard times. It will give us hope for the future. It will teach us right doctrines and tell us how to live with our mates, how to love, train and care for our children and how to live in society.
When some false prophet or cult adds to the Bible it is like pouring raw sewage into fresh clean water. It is not fit for human consumption although it may look harmless.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
The Amazing Sufficiency of God’s Grace
“And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee…’” (II Corinthians 12:9)
The subject of the grace of God is inexhaustible. When I tell you that this is my last devotional in this series on the subject, ‘Why is grace so amazing’ I am in no way implying that this is all that can be said about grace.
From Titus 2:11-14 we found that the Source of grace is amazing, the salvation it brings is amazing, as is its scope or reach, the separation from sin which grace teaches is amazing, and the Savior whose return we anticipate is amazing.
Today, allow me to say a few words concerning the amazing sufficiency of God’s grace. In our text Paul is telling us about his thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, which buffeted him. He prayed three times that God would take it away. God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient.”
We do not know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. Perhaps his thorn in the flesh was identical to yours. God’s grace is sufficient to see us through our trials, difficulties, sicknesses, sorrows and disappointments. When you have walked away from the grave of a loved one and your heart is broken, trust Him. His Grace is amazingly sufficient.
The subject of the grace of God is inexhaustible. When I tell you that this is my last devotional in this series on the subject, ‘Why is grace so amazing’ I am in no way implying that this is all that can be said about grace.
From Titus 2:11-14 we found that the Source of grace is amazing, the salvation it brings is amazing, as is its scope or reach, the separation from sin which grace teaches is amazing, and the Savior whose return we anticipate is amazing.
Today, allow me to say a few words concerning the amazing sufficiency of God’s grace. In our text Paul is telling us about his thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, which buffeted him. He prayed three times that God would take it away. God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient.”
We do not know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. Perhaps his thorn in the flesh was identical to yours. God’s grace is sufficient to see us through our trials, difficulties, sicknesses, sorrows and disappointments. When you have walked away from the grave of a loved one and your heart is broken, trust Him. His Grace is amazingly sufficient.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Looking for the Return of Jesus
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)
Grace is amazing, in the fifth place, because the Savior whose appearing it anticipates is amazing. His return is called, “that blessed hope.” Satan has corrupted the earth with his presence and has created sinfulness, confusion, ill will, and hopelessness. We have a blessed hope. We will see Jesus and His appearing will be glorious. He is called the great God. There is nothing for which to be ashamed in the person of Jesus Christ.
He is our Savior. He came to seek and to save lost sinners. (Luke 19:10; I Timothy 1:15) To save us it was necessary that He die on the cross. In so dying He redeemed us by His precious blood from all iniquity. Through redemption by His blood He purified us and made us a peculiar people to do good works for Him.
Yes, it is amazing grace that saved a wretch like me, a country boy, and John Newton, slave trader, and Billy Graham, dairy farmer, and Simon Peter, fisherman, and Saul of Tarsus, self righteous Pharisee, and…
Grace is amazing, in the fifth place, because the Savior whose appearing it anticipates is amazing. His return is called, “that blessed hope.” Satan has corrupted the earth with his presence and has created sinfulness, confusion, ill will, and hopelessness. We have a blessed hope. We will see Jesus and His appearing will be glorious. He is called the great God. There is nothing for which to be ashamed in the person of Jesus Christ.
He is our Savior. He came to seek and to save lost sinners. (Luke 19:10; I Timothy 1:15) To save us it was necessary that He die on the cross. In so dying He redeemed us by His precious blood from all iniquity. Through redemption by His blood He purified us and made us a peculiar people to do good works for Him.
Yes, it is amazing grace that saved a wretch like me, a country boy, and John Newton, slave trader, and Billy Graham, dairy farmer, and Simon Peter, fisherman, and Saul of Tarsus, self righteous Pharisee, and…
Monday, March 27, 2017
Are We Learning What God is Teaching?
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present world…” (Titus 2:11-12)
One of the amazing truths about the grace of God is the separated Christian life that it teaches us we are to live. Yes, we are saved by grace through faith plus nothing. We are not saved as a result of our model behavior. Model behavior results from being saved.
We are told to, “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11) Our text says we are to be separate or different from the world. Over and over the Bible calls us to not be like the world.
There is a strange view of grace in our world today. It says that once we are saved by grace we can go out and live any way we choose. Jude saw false teachers in the first century who were turning the grace of God into a license to sin. (Jude 1:4) Those false teachers are in abundance today. Sadly many churches have taken that same ungodly approach. We are asked in II Corinthians 6:14, “What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion has light with darkness?” The answer, of course, is “none.” God expects us after salvation to live like saved people, in the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
One of the amazing truths about the grace of God is the separated Christian life that it teaches us we are to live. Yes, we are saved by grace through faith plus nothing. We are not saved as a result of our model behavior. Model behavior results from being saved.
We are told to, “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11) Our text says we are to be separate or different from the world. Over and over the Bible calls us to not be like the world.
There is a strange view of grace in our world today. It says that once we are saved by grace we can go out and live any way we choose. Jude saw false teachers in the first century who were turning the grace of God into a license to sin. (Jude 1:4) Those false teachers are in abundance today. Sadly many churches have taken that same ungodly approach. We are asked in II Corinthians 6:14, “What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion has light with darkness?” The answer, of course, is “none.” God expects us after salvation to live like saved people, in the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
The Amazing Scope of Grace
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…” (Titus 2:11)
Billy Graham said, “Grace is not sought nor bought nor wrought. It is a free gift of Almighty God to needy mankind.” 1
What’s so amazing about grace? First, the source of grace is amazing. Second, the salvation it brings is amazing. Third, the scope of grace is amazing. The Bible says the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Not everyone is saved because not everyone has accepted salvation in Christ. But the grace that provides salvation is available to all who will repent and believe. Just as God sends rain on the just and the unjust so He makes grace available to all.
His grace for salvation is available from the White House in Washington D.C. to skid row in the lowest part of any town or city. His grace is available from Number Ten Downing Street in London, England to the squatter’s hut. His grace for salvation is available for you if you will receive it. That is absolutely amazing.
1. The Quotable Billy Graham, 1966 by Droke House Publishers, Inc., page 90
Billy Graham said, “Grace is not sought nor bought nor wrought. It is a free gift of Almighty God to needy mankind.” 1
What’s so amazing about grace? First, the source of grace is amazing. Second, the salvation it brings is amazing. Third, the scope of grace is amazing. The Bible says the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Not everyone is saved because not everyone has accepted salvation in Christ. But the grace that provides salvation is available to all who will repent and believe. Just as God sends rain on the just and the unjust so He makes grace available to all.
His grace for salvation is available from the White House in Washington D.C. to skid row in the lowest part of any town or city. His grace is available from Number Ten Downing Street in London, England to the squatter’s hut. His grace for salvation is available for you if you will receive it. That is absolutely amazing.
1. The Quotable Billy Graham, 1966 by Droke House Publishers, Inc., page 90
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Saved by Grace
“For the grace of god that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…” (Titus 2:11)
This is the second in a series of devotions on truths that make grace so amazing. Not only is the source of grace amazing, as I indicated last time, but the salvation that grace brings is also amazing.
Here is a partial description of what we were before we were saved and forgiven of all sins. We were dead in sin, lived like the world, walked according to the course of this world and followed the prince of the power of the air. We were led by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. We were sinners by nature. (Ephesians 2:1-3) Our spiritual father was the devil and we acted like the devil. (John 8:44) We were deserving of hell. We had no hope and were without God. As one man said, “When I looked back over my past life before I met Jesus, every footprint was crooked.”
“But God,” the Bible says. God is rich in mercy and loves us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice to pay our sin debt. “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is the unmerited favor of God to man. This might help: God’s, Riches, At, Christ’s, Expense.
By God’s grace we have been saved from the penalty of sin, no longer fearing an eternity in hell. By His grace we are being saved every day from the power of sin. And, by His grace we shall be saved from the presence of sin when He takes us to heaven. Grace is amazing because of the amazing salvation it brings.
This is the second in a series of devotions on truths that make grace so amazing. Not only is the source of grace amazing, as I indicated last time, but the salvation that grace brings is also amazing.
Here is a partial description of what we were before we were saved and forgiven of all sins. We were dead in sin, lived like the world, walked according to the course of this world and followed the prince of the power of the air. We were led by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. We were sinners by nature. (Ephesians 2:1-3) Our spiritual father was the devil and we acted like the devil. (John 8:44) We were deserving of hell. We had no hope and were without God. As one man said, “When I looked back over my past life before I met Jesus, every footprint was crooked.”
“But God,” the Bible says. God is rich in mercy and loves us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice to pay our sin debt. “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is the unmerited favor of God to man. This might help: God’s, Riches, At, Christ’s, Expense.
By God’s grace we have been saved from the penalty of sin, no longer fearing an eternity in hell. By His grace we are being saved every day from the power of sin. And, by His grace we shall be saved from the presence of sin when He takes us to heaven. Grace is amazing because of the amazing salvation it brings.
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