Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
--Zechariah 3:3-4
Joshua was not a wicked man. This was the best religion had to offer… the high priest! And yet, as Joshua stood in the presence of God, he was viewed as wearing filthy clothes. He needed God’s forgiveness just as much as you and me.
It’s important to remember that you are saved and sustained by grace alone. At times you may feel like you’re doing okay in your Christian life. You may serve, witness, give, perform acts of kindness, and have admirable character.
But don’t be mistaken. You’re not saved by any of that! And to the degree that you’re clinging to your self-righteousness or any merit that you have, you’re missing the blessing of grace.
You’re not saved by grace and works… but by grace alone. Grace is not God making up the difference in your shortfall. It does not mean that you pay a little bit and then God pays the rest. That’s not grace!
The grace of God means that you and I come without anything to offer. We come into the Kingdom helpless and hopeless and empty. And he invites us there, not on the basis of our merit or money, but on the basis of his grace.
So today, remember that your salvation is a gift of grace through and through. It doesn’t depend on what you do… it’s based entirely on what Jesus did for you!
YOU ARE SAVED AND SUSTAINED BY GRACE ALONE!
Time at the Feet of Jesus
Monday, July 22, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:39-42
There are so many distractions that draw us away from God. Many of them are not wrong or evil things, but rather good things that deserve some of our time and attention. The problem comes when we allow those good things to keep us from the most important thing. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). People are constantly looking for new methods and techniques of improving their spiritual lives, their finances, their families and their sanctification. Yet the answer is not in a new idea, but in practicing an old one—sit down at Jesus’ feet.
Charles Spurgeon said, “I know this, that the death of all that is sinful in me is my soul’s highest ambition, yes, and the death of all that is carnal and all that savors of the old Adam. Oh, that it would die. And where can it die but at the feet of Him who has the new life, and who by manifesting Himself in all His glory is to purge away our dross and sin?” The time that we spend with God is vital for our spiritual health and well-being. But it goes far beyond that. The time we spend with God improves every facet and relationship of life.
Today's Growth Principle:
When was the last time you set aside everything else to get closer to Jesus?
|
No comments:
Post a Comment