Faith alome

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:25-26 ESV)

Nothing we can do will give us everlasting life in the kingdom of God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior can we have eternal life.

Should we not help our neighbor in trouble if we believe in Jesus as our Savior? If we see someone being wronged do we not come to the rescue? If we help our neighbor and defend those being wronged,  do those acts alone save us from God's wrath on judgment day?

We are to do good works, but only out of faith. For works without faith are empty, meant for our own glorification and not God's.  Everything we do should have the goal of pleasing God.

Resist

Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on. (Proverbs 4:14-15 ESV)

Do you have these verses bookmarkee in your Bible? You should. We are all constantly tempted by Satan and these verses are a good reminder to us of God's instructions. Sometimes we think we are better than others, no susceptible to the devil's temptations. But as our pastor told my son's confirmation class "now is when Satan will really go after you ". He already has the nonbelievers in his control, it is the professed Christians that he will work hard to get. Listen to the Word and resist temptation. In today's world you just need to turn on the television it his temptations are right there.

Read and you will find

"'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" ( Matthew 15:8-9 ESV)

I find that if I do not read the Word and pray regularly that my mind tends to wander, thinking inappropriate thoughts and making me anxious about life's challenges. When I am in the Word a wandering eye is reminded immediately by a heart filled with Christ to turn away and ask for forgiveness immediately. I also find that in interactions with others I am not as quick to fire back a comment that I may later regret.

Now I am not saying the Word keeps me from sinning but it does allow me to immediately reflect and understand that I have sinned. It also reminds me that I am forgiven. We are human and by nature sinful. That is why God sent Jesus to die on the cross for us.

Here is the greatest part of being in the Word regularly (daily at least) ; it allows us to see the false preachings. When we know what God is telling us, we are not as likely to be drawn into some of the false, feel good preaching of today. So many are now straying from the Word to make people feel good. I don't think there is anything wrong with people feeling good. But that is not what gives them eternal life in Heaven. That is a gift straight from God.  It is very clear if you read and listen to the Word.

God bles you and thanks to God for a quick return of my upgraded tablet allowing me to write again.

If you haven't already, go and see Courageous,  a movie with a powerful message.

He is the source of all mercy

I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
"O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!"
I believed, even when I spoke,
"I am greatly afflicted"; (Psalm 116:1-4, 10 ESV)

Is it not wonderful when you finally break through from a time of many challenges? You can finally look back at the day and say "wow, it finally got better". It is funny how we see life's challenges, often looking to the sky and asking "why me God? ". But when we step back we know that as a strong Christian,  the devil wants our souls even more. He will do anything to get them.

Keep strong in faith and stay in the Word. In the Word, you have all the tools necessary to fight off the devil. And remember that it is not an easy battle. In today's society, everyone looks for the easy route, the quick solution. It is especially true in marriages, where wemhave made it way too easy to just walk away. It needs to be harder, we need couples to understand the challenges in marriage and not to walk away from them, but instead to pray together and face them together as one.

Give thanks.

When times are rough, we tend to forget to thank God for the blessings He has given freely to us. The biggest being salvation by grace alone...our faith.

Doctor, doctor, give me the news

But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13 ESV)

I am sick, very sick. In fact I am so sick that I need to visit the doctor multiple times a day. Is it fatal? It could be without these regular visits to the doctor. But with regular visits, I can live forever.

What is this horrible sickness that I have? SIN. I will not be healed from this sickness until my death here on earth.

I take a bunch of pills each day, morning and night. High cholesterol, GERD, allergies, anxiety and stress. If I don't take my Nexium, I will know it by mid-day. The funny thing is, as Jesus states in these verses from Matthew, I also know if I skip my spiritual medication. When I slip from regular devotion, it shows. The days get tougher, longer, more frustrating. Even funnier is that there is no difference in the challenges I face, the things that occur at work, whether I spend time with God or not. As they say, life goes on.

But how I see those challenges and the things that happen is like night and day. God gives me the strength to get through anything. He allows me to see the good in others, the positive blessing in things that happen.

Take time to vist the doctor. Your eternal life depends on it.

What would I do?

Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead." (Matthew 8:21-22 ESV)

When I read these verses, I always think to myself what I would have done if Jesus posed that question to me. Obviously it was a different time and a different culture,  but is my faith strong enough to walk away from earthly loves? It is a question I do not know that I can answer. To date, I really have not been presented with anything close to that situation. I have been presented with situations where I had to make a choice to refrain from an activity, but never to walk away from family.

What are your thoughts?

One from the gene pool?

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:19-21, 33 ESV)

I am pretty sure that my mom passed on the "worry gene" to me a a couple of my siblings. I know, I don't really believe there is a "worry gene" but it a little comical that some of worry just like our mom. Of course we talk a good talk, always letting our mom know "don't worry about that, there is nothing you can do". But then in my own life I am what some refer to as a worry wart. It has definitely gotten more prominent since having kids.

And the things I worry about the most? Providing financially for my family and the health and safety of my wife and kids.

That is why my devotion today which was based on Matthew 6:16-34 struck a nerve. This is where Jesus tells us not to worry, not to burden ourselves with material things of this world. Instead I see Him telling me, because I like to read God's Word in terms of Him talking directly to me, to let go of my worries, stop chasing the things that are not important and focus on the cross. God tells us throughout the Bible that he will always provide. He will always protect us. He will always give us what we need, not necessarily what we want.

That is very hard for me and I struggle daily. I am sure I am not alone. I know others struggle as well. However none of us are alone because God is always with us, never leaving us alone.