I Wish I Could Have Stopped It!

Good Morning Ladies (and few gents),

Today’s devotion included below “I Wish I Could’ve Stopped It” is a reminder from GiG Gwen that, “Though we all slip at times, it’s comforting to know that the God who made every rocky road and slippery stone cares enough to extend His invisible hand to mine at times and in ways I’ll never know.”

GiG, I’ve had my share of slips and falls, but I’m grateful too that God is faithful, merciful and gracious which is a great segway to today’s Catechism truth number 34.

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

1 Peter 2:9-12 NLT

Question 34: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word? 1 Peter 1:1-2 NLT

Answer: “Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.”

GiG, to answer this Catechism truth, Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon reminds us that good works must be in the Christian. However, they are not the root, but the fruit of our salvation. Good works are not the way of the believer’s salvation; they are our walk in the way of salvation. Where there is healthy life in a tree, the tree will bear fruit according to its kind; so, if God has made our nature good, the fruit will be good. But if the fruit be evil, it is because the tree is what it always was—an evil tree. The desire of men created anew in Christ is to be rid of every sin. We do sin, but we do not live sin. Sin gets power over us sometimes to our sorrow, but it is a kind of death to us to feel that we have gone into sin; yet it shall not have dominion over us, for we are not under the law, but under grace; and therefore we shall conquer it, and get the victory.

GiG, may we be encouraged to remember that there’s a place for good works. The role of obedience to God’s Word, of God’s law is a life of gratitude, assurance, and witness. May we never forget that good works done in faith assure us. When we obey the Word of God, when we do good works, we glorify our heavenly Father. So though we’re saved by grace, we’re saved to a life of joyful good words and obedience. Not to get God to love us, but because God does love us, and we want to be like his Son.

God’s Got It…so we can PRAY—Our heavenly Father has saved us from sin. Let us not continue in it as if we were still enslaved to it. May all who know us see our good works and glorify our Father because of them.

Have a “Difference Making” Monday, May 6, 2019—we have been given commands that are the path of life. Let us treasure those commands.

Called to serve and encouraging others to thrive,

DEA: Embracing a Work-Hard, Rest-Well Life and Loving My Priorities, Loving My Life