Meditation

04/26/2022

“‘Who will ascend into heaven? Or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with you mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—-the name Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:8-13)

The ultimate goal in preaching the gospel is to lead individuals to faith in Jesus Christ. This faith will be revealed by the act of repentance leading to a change of life. Faith centers on the lordship of the resurrected Christ. When Christians proclaim the gospel, unbelievers will likely respond in faith or not, as this is a personal decision that each of us has to make. This will not be a time where trying to fake it will work at all.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, today we recognize the gift of proclaiming the Gospel. The message that we take out into the world is simple, direct and without any confusion. Therefore, when we proclaim the message of salvation to those who may never have heard it, it must ring true to them. They will watch how we act and speak with others, and if it if not in the same manner as we talk to them about, we will appear false to them and they will reject the message. God wants all of His children to be with Him in the kingdom of heaven, but if some do not accept it or reject it altogether, then that is on their shoulders as we are only the messenger. Today we also pray those who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, for those we don’t know, especially the people in Ukraine, as they are fighting for their very lives and way of life. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Pick your friends, but not to pieces.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Finally brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” (1^st Thessalonians 4:1-2)

Paul was explaining to the church of Thessalonicia that they have received the way they are to act, not just with each other but with everyone they talk and work with, whether Jew of Gentile. It is a daily reminder that each day we must reaffirm others of our faith, not just in words, but in the way we live our lives and among others. If we do not, we might slip up and someone will most definitely see it and they will tell others. Be a model for confession of sins and humbly seeking forgiveness with penitent hearts.

I AM:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—-the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all it’s truth.” (Colossians 1:3-6)

The ultimate purpose of the gospel is to bearing people to faith in Jesus Christ and lead them to grow and mature in that relationship. God’s concern is not only for the salvation of the lost but also for the regular spiritual growth of the saved. The failure to grow spiritually often produces theological and moral heresy. The proclamation of the gospel is God’s safeguard for believers intended to encourage us in spiritual growth and perseverance

2ND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.” (Acts 14:21-22)

They preached the good news in that city of Antioch and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said. Preaching the gospel strengthens and encourages believers, and is especially needed for new believers to move on in their commitment and faith.