Memory Verse of the Week ~
God
saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this;
it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have
done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9
When someone boasts,
brags about their accomplishments, are they showing their innermost thoughts and desires? We certainly can’t boast about our
salvation. We can’t earn it or inherit it from some family member. Is it worth
10 good deeds…or 100 good deeds…or giving a few dollars or a thousand to some
special ministry? No. We can’t count up our good deeds or give enough money to
get salvation. No reward involved. Some angel isn’t going to give it to us. It
is a gift from God the Father Himself. God graciously gives it to those who
want to receive it.
 |
| Bits of old coins in Israel. |
How much will
a mansion in heaven and eternal life cost us? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Jesus paid for it all when He died on the cross. We can’t give anything—except
our submission to God’s will—our repentant heart. For some people that is too
much.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is
sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit,
between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed
before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13
Accountable.
We are held responsible for our obedience to God’s word—for finding His will
and obeying it.
The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are
not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for
all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these
instructions. Deuteronomy
29:29
One day we
will be accountable for ourselves.
For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD,
EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." So
then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:11-12 NASB
God knows our
every thought, word and action. Nothing
in all creation is hidden from God. When you give an account of your life
before the Lord, will you be proud of what you have done? Forgiveness may be a
key here…ask for it now, before it is too late. Ask God to not only forgive
you…but to renew a right spirit in you as shown in both Old and New Testament
scriptures.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit
within me. Psalm 51:10
…let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Ephesians 4:23
Prayer
~ Lord God, I give You my heart…give me a new heart, and put a new spirit in me.
Take out my stony, stubborn heart and give me a tender, responsive heart as you
promised in Ezekiel 36:26. I praise You, Lord, for You are my God and my
Savior. I will boast only in You. For you said…”But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am
the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and
righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD,
have spoken!” Jeremiah 9:24.
Daily
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 14-16
© 2019 Text and
Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading
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