"Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him? Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'? - Job 36:22-23 NKJVHow great is God? Ask yourself that today. God's power is limitless, He created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1) and He made everything in earth. In Genesis 1:31 it says that God saw everything that He made, and indeed it was very good. What this means is that God's designs are perfect, without error and above that, He loved them. His love is so far above our understanding to the point that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in our place (because of our sins) so that we could live with Him in heaven forever.
Look at that again, but let's make it personal.
God's love for (insert your name) is so far above my understanding, to the point that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in MY place, for MY sins, so what I could live with Him forever.
This is salvation. See our sins separate us from God. The word "sin" is an archery term which means "to miss the mark." When we sin we miss God's mark, perfection. Romans 6:23a says "For the wages of sin is death..." Since we aren't perfect, because we sin, blood must be shed on our behalf. Either we each must pay the price ourselves and die, or someone had to die for us. Here's the catch, that blood, had to be perfect. Now I'm a nice guy, but believe me I'm far from perfect. I don't care how nice, honest, good, you are, understand this: the tiniest error puts us light years away from God's perfection.
This is why God sent His Son, His perfect Son, Jesus. He knew we couldn't pay the price, but He loved us enough that He didn't want us to suffer, but rather have eternal life. Look at Romans 6:23 again "For the ages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life." See Romans 6:23a isn't the full story, praise God!! If it were then we'd have no hope. The hope comes in the second half, "BUT the gift of God is eternal life." If we stop exalting ourselves, and recognize the power, love, mercy, and grace of God, believe in Him and trust that His Son Jesus died for us, He will overlook our sin problem. Jesus' blood washes away our sin. Trust in Jesus as your Savior (meaning person who can rescue you from your sin-penalty) and Lord (meaning ruler of your life) and He will stay with you forever.
This is not the lesson I had planned, when I started typing this devotional I had a totally different goal, but apparently God had other plans. I trust that God doesn't mislead us. Someone, somewhere needs to here this. God is speaking to someone telling them to accept His Son, to believe, to trust in Him.
Maybe that's you. If so, don't wait another second. Stop everything, talk to God. Let Him know you understand your sin-problem, that you know you can't fix it on your own. Thank Him for sending His Son to save you. Share with Him that you will trust His plan, make Him Savior and Lord of your life.
If you believe this, if you admit that you're a sinner, if you (with God's help) turn away from your sin, if you believe Jesus is the Son of God who died in your place to save you, if you confess HIM (Jesus) as your Savior and Lord, YOU WILL BE SAVED (period).
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:9-13.
If you just accepted Jesus into your life, I encourage you not to hide it, but to get excited! Let us know what God is doing in you, & we will be in prayer for you as you start your journey with God.
In Christ,
Bro. Austin
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