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But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. —Romans 3:21–22 I’m an American. Growing up, I was taught that I could do anything I wanted in life as long as I was willing to work for it. That’s how many people in our country are raised… to never give up on their dreams, pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and make something of themselves no matter their background. That way of thinking works great for reaching a better life. But it doesn’t work at all when it comes to reaching eternal life. That’s because on our own, heaven is completely unattainable. You’d have more success in jumping to the moon than you would in getting to heaven by your own works. Left to ourselves, we’re stubborn, prideful, sinful, and utterly hopeless. I’ve often said that I wouldn’t trust the best 15 minutes I’ve ever lived to get me into heaven. But praise God that Jesus Christ has done the work I couldn’t, taken away my sins, and given me eternal life when I certainly didn’t deserve it! Any chance you had of getting to heaven on your own was destroyed by sin. But Christ destroyed the power of sin on the cross to give you eternal life if you’ll only trust in Him. Put your faith in Christ, not yourself, for eternal life. It’s His work alone that can save you!   DON’T TRUST IN YOUR OWN WORKS TO GET YOU TO HEAVEN. TRUST IN CHRIST’S WORK ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE! Wednesday, October 24, 2018 The Ultimate Motive for Serving God by Dr. Paul Chappell “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:13–15 When we read the story of the life of the Apostle Paul in the Bible, it is a nearly constant record of persecution, opposition, distress, and suffering. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and, according to church history, eventually executed for his fearless gospel witness. This man who had once been a bitter enemy of the church, doing everything in his power to persecute and even kill Christians for their faith, was now willing to endure any hardship for the cause of the gospel. What changed? Paul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and he never got over it. There are many motives for serving God. Some people serve out of a desire for rewards. Some serve for fear of disappointing or failing Him or others. But the greatest motive for serving God is a recognition of His love for us and our corresponding love for Him. Vance Havener said, “The primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we so often hear, but love for Christ.” The same is true for any work that we do for the Lord. There is nothing more important we can do than to love God above all else. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38). We cannot love God as we should without an understanding and appreciation of His amazing love for us. Today’s Growth Principle:  The love and mercy God extended to us should stay with us every day of our lives.