Meditation

Meditation for 07/02/2019

“First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” (Acts26:20)

Proclaiming the gospel bring two responses. Some will accept the gospel with repentance and faith. Others will respond with rejection and rebellion. This dual reaction is clearly seen in 1^st Corinthians 1:18-25. The results belong to God. Our assignment is to preach and teach the gospel so that all people will be brought either to receive Him or reject Him.

Paul never separated the preaching of repentance from good works. Deeds of Christian love reveal a person has repented, that is, turned from sin to God. This mean of direction in one’s life, not simply a statement made once and never acted upon.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Abba, each of us has to hear the good news of the gospel message and then take action on what we have heard. The message, like so many others, hit me like a ton of bricks, and my heart sprang open and I was filled with the Holy Spirit and I could no longer walk the sinful walk any more. This does not mean that I or any others are perfect, but we are forgiven and we now walk with You. Others, for a variety of reasons will reject the message and continue in their lifestyle. Help all of us to not only hear the message, but then to act positively on it and change the direction of our lives, and begin to live for You. This we all pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Whenever things go wrong, don’t go with them.”

KNOWING GOD:

“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith—-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—-not by works, so that no one can boast. Fore we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians2:8-10)

God’s intention for us has always been that we do good works helping other people. Works, beloved, do not earn us right standing with God. Works are not done to gain praise from people. Good works are done because faith in Christ has made us new creatures whose very name is to do God’s works. Salvation is God’s work that motivates us to work. Salvation changes us so we will work according to God’s good purpose for us.

I AM:

Discipleship, Conversion: (James 2:14–26)

Mere profession of faith accomplishes nothing. Faith is completed and attested by the actions it prompts. Faith without such actions is dead, and no one can be saved to life in Christ by a dead faith. A Christian is saved and justified before God by faith, but it is a live faith through which God accomplishes His purposes by good works.

Second Thought of the Day:

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: ‘Whoever loves God must also love his brother.’” (1^st John 4:19-21)

God’s love is the source of our love. Those who say they love God whom they have not seen, but hate their brothers whom they have seen, are liars. One of God’s commands is that those who love Him love their brothers as well.

A liar says he loves God while hating another person. A person who loves God loves other people. Those are John’s blunt, inspired conclusions. Every professing Christian needs to hear and consider them. Christian conversion leads us to love others.