The writer of Romans, Paul, reasoned that obedience to the Law cannot justify one before God – because no one can keep the Law perfectly. For the very nature of the Law was to prove to us that we’re sinful…and the purpose of the Law was to lead us from our futile attempts at keeping it to putting our trust in Jesus instead.
Author: kezha1
A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ.
Hebrews 1:3 ” The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…”
We look like our parents…we possess characteristics from both of them. Our DNA is a family history from generations past. Jesus was that perfect expression of His Heavenly Father. Jesus Himself said in John 14:9, ” Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” God’s divine glory and splendor took on flesh and came down here to earth to live among us…and His name was Jesus Christ.
I Kings 18: 42-43 ” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. ‘Go and look towards the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ “
This is a wonderful example of persistent prayer. The kind of determined, tenacious, even stubborn prayer where we refuse to get out of the Lord’s face until He does something. In Luke 18: 1-8, Jesus tells the parable about the widow looking for justice who wore the judge down with her persistence. At the end of this story He instructs His disciples to have the same kind of unabashed audacity in prayer … to not give up.
Psalm 33:11 ” But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
From the moment of creation…to the furthest reaches of the future, there are two things that will never change about God. He will never lie, and He will never change His mind. (Numbers 23:19) The plans he puts into motion are driven by divine wisdom and love and will never see failure…for He is God.
Jeremiah 23: 28 ” Let the (false) prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? “
This Scripture speaks to what is truth, and what is false…it speaks to God’s divinely ordained Word, and the corrupted half-truths that come from the pit of hell. The bottom line for us is…do we want to be filled with the “fruit” of His Word, or the useless stubble left behind?
Romans 1:8 ” First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”
Every time you share your faith with someone…every time you openly declare your trust and belief in Jesus Christ…God’s word reaches farther into the world. Little did I know when I started this Daily Devotional a little over three years ago that it would now be reaching over 100 countries around the world. As it states in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Our faith and belief in the Gospel message, when shared with others, catapults His Word to the far-flung reaches of this world.
II John verse 6 ” And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands, as you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.”
As you start your journey into 2016, are you willing to yield all of yourself to the Lord…conforming yourself to His ways, not yours? Are you willing to give Him that secret part of you that you’ve been holding on to…hiding from Him…unable to give Him fully? Obedience is the fundamental key in our relationship with God…for His love is truly made complete in it. ( I John 2:5)
Psalm 94:11 ” The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.”
The Lord knows them all…every ill-intended, evil thought. He sees every vain and worthless plan, and will listen to every ridiculous scheme when we’re trying to impress Him with our wisdom. To paraphrase I Corinth. 3:20, The wisdom of the world is utterly absurd and ridiculous to God is so very true. Every time we think we know it all…we need to remember that we know nothing.
Jude 1:2 ” Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.”
On this first day of 2016, I pray this scripture over you and yours. May the Lord’s compassion be ever evident in your life…may you discover true peace that is only brought about by God’s tender mercy, granting you deliverance and freedom from sin…and may His unconditional love shine brightly on you as you journey ahead in this new year. God loves you!
II Chronicles 20:20 ” Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”
On this last day of 2015, whose report will you believe today? The pessimistic and slanted world’s view, or the Lord’s divine perspective on things? The most reliable truth comes from God and His people. His Word will sustain you, and cause you to prosper…to be happy and victorious in this next coming year. Look to Him and His people for this guidance as you move into 2016.
Safetypinlove 