Daily devotion – forced or driven!
When a sinner truly finds out how much God loves them – something amazing happens within their life. They need no external motivation or inducement to live the Christian life in obedience to His Word. They need no additional prompting to go to Church or to serve the Body of Christ – it simply flows from the love they have received from God initially. They have recognised fully their sinfulness and the price that Jesus Christ pad for them when He died on the Cross at Calvary. This is true salvation.
Paul tells us this in his letter to the Church at Rome – Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
The measure of God’s love for us is shown by two things:
1. The degree of His sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sin.
2. The degree of unworthiness that we had when He saved us.
Today, where do you stand in your relationship with God. Is it one of convenience, of fitting God in where you can, is Jesus Christ Lord of all of your life?
Often Churches go through difficult times within with those attending not living out the Christian life with any serious commitment. Could this be simply because such people have only experienced a religious work in their lives. One that allows them to think they are right with God but they live just like any other person in the world.
I remember one very experienced pastor advising me that you cannot pastor anybody who has not been born again, who has not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and repented of their sins. It’s simply impossible for such people to live out the Gospel in their lives because they have not been regenerated with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
The Apostle John would tell us that in time, such people would walk away from the Church – 1 John 2: 18 “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”
But of those who have come to God as sinners and been forgiven of their sins, recognising Jesus love for them and His sacrifice on the Cross – they are those who are filled with the joy of the Lord no matter what storm, what trial, what difficulty comes their way. They have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.
The Apostle Paul could not contain himself when shared his story, his salvation when he wrote the following – 1 Timothy 1: 12 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. 15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”
Maybe you are wondering where you sit in all this? Are you simply following a religious regime, or have you comprehended what Christ has done for you and asked Him to be the Lord and Saviour of your life?
Examine your life today – is it like that of Paul’s? Or is it something that you indulge yourself in when you have the time?
Are you Christ’s disciple, or are you one who knows about Him, but does not know Him personally?
It’s a most important decision!
James tells us so – James 2: 14 “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”