It Is All from God
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Romans 9:14–16
Our culture is becoming increasingly less interested in religion. The most recent survey from Gallup showed the “nones”—those with no religious affiliation at all—have increased to one out of every five adult Americans. And among those who are affiliated with some religious belief, the level of attendance and involvement has declined. Yet despite this apparent lack of interest in religion, there is still an empty place in the heart of man that nothing but God can fill. All around us we see the evidence of the toll taken and damage done when people try to replace God with something else.
If we choose to try to replace God or find acceptance with Him in our own way, we are doomed to failure. Nothing we can accomplish or avoid can earn us merit in God’s eyes. Salvation is His work and His alone. D. L. Moody said, “The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.”
This truth is one that Christians need reminding of from time to time, for it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we somehow deserved God’s gift of salvation. But like every good thing, salvation is a gift from God, and it comes apart from anything we do.
Romans 9:14–16
Our culture is becoming increasingly less interested in religion. The most recent survey from Gallup showed the “nones”—those with no religious affiliation at all—have increased to one out of every five adult Americans. And among those who are affiliated with some religious belief, the level of attendance and involvement has declined. Yet despite this apparent lack of interest in religion, there is still an empty place in the heart of man that nothing but God can fill. All around us we see the evidence of the toll taken and damage done when people try to replace God with something else.
If we choose to try to replace God or find acceptance with Him in our own way, we are doomed to failure. Nothing we can accomplish or avoid can earn us merit in God’s eyes. Salvation is His work and His alone. D. L. Moody said, “The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.”
This truth is one that Christians need reminding of from time to time, for it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we somehow deserved God’s gift of salvation. But like every good thing, salvation is a gift from God, and it comes apart from anything we do.
Today’s Growth Principle:
God’s mercy is all we have for our hope of Heaven—it is also all that we need.
At All Times
by Joyce Meyer - posted May 15, 2017I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
—Psalm 34:1
Faith and trust in God is meant to be exercised more than once in a while or from time to time; we can live in faith at all times. With God’s help we can learn to live from faith to faith, trusting the Lord when things are good, and when things are difficult. It is easy to trust God when things are good, but when things are challenging and we decide to trust God, then we really develop character.
Psalm 34:1 encourages us to bless the Lord at all times. There are several other scriptures that tell us things to do at all times—resist the devil at all times, believe God at all times, love others at all times—not just when it’s convenient or it feels good.
Temptation is a frequent visitor in our lives and as long as we are here on earth, we will have to discipline our emotions, our moods, and our mouths, so that we remain stable and calm, and peaceful—whatever our situation or circumstances. That enables us to be in close fellowship with God and walk in the joy of His Spirit.
Since you can choose your own thoughts, when doubt comes, you can learn to recognize it for what it is, say, “No, thank you,” and keep on believing!
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