05 Tuesday Jul 2016
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In today’s reading, Paul stresses the importance of serving God in the pursuit of spreading the good news of the Gospel. In the second half of Romans 10:15, Paul quotes from Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” If we are unwilling to be used by God to spread the Gospel, then who is? The joy of salvation and God’s presence in our lives should be enough to encourage us to serve Him more.
30 Thursday Jun 2016
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The most beautiful thing about salvation is grace. Though we do not deserve to be forgiven of our sin, God gave it to us anyway. In Romans 6:14 it says we are not only forgiven of sin, it is no longer a master over us: For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. While we are by no means perfect, we have an ability to turn to the Holy Spirit for protection and guidance through the draw of this world. We must remember we do not stand alone. God is with us always.
27 Monday Jun 2016
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True righteousness comes from one place; faith in Jesus Christ. Paul states this plainly in Romans 3:22, This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference. This righteousness is available to all and any who choose to have faith and believe. There is no difference who they are or where they came from.
24 Friday Jun 2016
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God’s power is shown most clearly through the sacrifice of Christ for our eternal salvation. In Romans 1:16 Paul addresses the Romans, I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. God loved us so much, despite our sin, He gave us a way to be with Him for eternity. We must never be ashamed of the gift He freely gave.
15 Wednesday Jun 2016
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When we work to alight our lives with God’s purpose and will for our lives, it leads us to repentance of sin that separates us from salvation that bridges the gap. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:10, Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. When we allow ourselves to live in sin, and do nothing to resolve it, nothing exists but sorrow. Only through a relationship with God and acknowledgement of our sin do we find true salvation and reconciliation. Let us not find comfort in our sin because nothing good can ever come from it, only separation from God and death.
14 Tuesday Jun 2016
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God calls us to love the world and be a reflection of His love, but He does not call us to be a part of the world. In 2 Corinthians 6:15 Paul says, What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? Belial is the name Paul give to Satan. When we are a part of God’s kingdom and have experienced His light, we can not mix with the darkness of this world. This does not mean we cannot bring others to a loving relationship with God, but we no longer have anything in common with a fallen world.
10 Friday Jun 2016
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Before Christ, there was a veil which separated the people from the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of the Temple because only God was perfect enough to be there. Paul explains what changed when Christ came to provide redemption for sin in 2 Corinthians 3:16, But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Christ’s perfect sacrifice for all our sins removed the veil that separates us from God. Because of Christ we are no longer separated from God and we have direct access to Him.
09 Thursday Jun 2016
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Because we are saved through Christ, 2 Corinthians 2:15 says we have the aroma of Christ, For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. There is a distinct contrast in the aroma of something fully alive and something dying. Weather it is fruit, vegetables, plants, or animals, you can smell the freshness or lack thereof. It is the same difference in the aroma we are to God when we are saved and active believers through Christ.
30 Monday May 2016
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We are called to not conform to this world. However, we are also called to become all things to all men in order to bring them into a relationship with Christ. In 1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul says, To the weak I became weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. Paul’s only real concern was bringing people closer to Christ. It did not matter what reason was given as long as they understood God’s love for them and His desire for their eternal salvation. Let us all remember the same thing. God does not call us to perfection in order to be saved, He calls us to salvation so that we can be made perfect in His eyes.
27 Friday May 2016
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Christ died for us to free us from the bonds of sin. It does not make us perfect, but it is meant to keep us from aimlessly pursuing matters that do not mean anything in the light of eternity. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Once you are free from slavery, the last thing you should want to do is return to those chains. Christ’s freedom is permanent, but it is up to us to accept it and benefit from it.
Daily Devotion 