Meditation

11/01/2021

“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.” (Acts 26:20)

Becoming a Christian is not a word game played to impress other people. It is conversion to a new way of life. Paul preached to everyone, Jew or Gentile, that repentance as well as faith must be proved by deeds. People around you will see a difference in the way you talk, but especially how you talk to and treat other people. It is a lifestyle change, accentuated by the love you show towards others, especially the ones that cannot do anything for you!

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, it has been said that when we convert from being a follower of the world to be a follower of Jesus Christ, that the change is hard to miss. You help people, you reach out to others in love, that is unmistakable, and that your demeanor is simply different. Many will say, “I wish I had what he/she has. Let our worship then flow out of grateful hearts. This we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Don’t let troubles get you down—-except on your knees.”

KNOWING GOD:

“For it is by grace 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. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

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. Jesus saving actions created new life for believers, a life of good works.

I AM:

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act of prompted by your faith.” ( 2^nd Thessalonians 1:11)

God fulfills His purposes through deeds in the life of a Christian who is prompted by faith. Through such fulfillment the Lord indicates the Christians’ worthiness. In answer to authentic faith God takes the initiative in accomplishing His purposes. The second coming of Christ casts its bright light over all Christians actions, so that we do everything to bring glory to Christ. One enduring faith issues in faithful acts to fulfill good purposes. He has given us. Such active faith based on hope proves worthy of His call to discipleship and ultimately to heaven.

SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. ” (1^st John 3:10)

Conversion makes us Christian disciples and changes our lives. A person who will not do what is right is a child of the devil, not of God. Love expressed in concrete acts for others reveals our converted lives. When we are converted to being a Christian, there are certainly changes that occur. We see people differently but we do not treat them differently. If we truly are followers of Jesus Christ, we reach out to all people, in His love; we help all that we can; we talk and listen to others with a heart filled with Christ. We may be different colors/cultures/genders, etc., but we are all Christians, and this is what sets up apart from all other religions.Christianity is not about working our way to God’s kingdom, because it is a free gift who accept Him through His Son. It’s about confessing our sins, fully repenting of them, and accepting forgiveness in return.