Daily Devotional 11-24-2021
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. He hastens to acknowledge that whatever he now is, he is by the grace of God. And he did not accept this grace as a matter of fact. Rather it put him under the deepest obligation, and he labored tirelessly to serve the Christ who saved him. Yet in a very real sense it was not Paul himself, but the grace of God which was working with him.
Daiy Devotional 11-23-2021
Rom 9:16 So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. The conclusion, then, is that the ultimate destiny of men or of nations does not rest in the strength of their will or in the power of their exertions, but rather in the mercy of God. When Paul says that it is not of him who wills, he does not mean that a person’s will is not involved in his salvation. The gospel invitation is clearly directed to a person’s will, as shown in revelation: “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Jesus exposed the unbelieving Jews as being unwilling to come to Him. When Paul says, nor of him who runs, he does not deny that we must strive to enter the narrow gate. A certain amount of spiritual earnestness and willingness are necessary. But man’s will…
Daily Devotional 11-22-2021
Col 2:13-14 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. (14) He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Before a person is liberated to this new life in Christ, he is dead in his sins and in his sinful nature. Death means separation, not annihilation. Even the unsaved still bear the image of God, but they are separated from God. Cut off from spiritual life, they still have human life. But now God made you alive with Christ. The same “power” that raised Christ from the dead resurrects believing sinners to spiritual life. This new life came when God forgave us all our sins for He canceled the written code. Before…