What I need to hear every day . . .

 

NOTE: Yesterday’s post was made using my I-pad and it did not transfer well to this blog. I had to copy it to my normally used file in MacBook Pro and repost it in a new file. The former one was deleted. Messy. Will not do that again!

Life has been a bit messy too. I’m feeling somewhat more ambitious today but the body is about the same — in need of more chicken soup? When finally getting to today’s devotional reading, my first thought was ‘not another gospel message?’ But the Spirit of God quickly reminded me that this is the essence of my life. No day goes by without needing the reminder that Jesus died for me and that I live because of Him.

It starts by saying “The essence of the gospel is substitution. The everlasting salvation of God’s elect is in no way dependent upon, or attributed to, anything done by us. ‘Salvation is of the Lord!’ God’s gift of eternal life, all the blessings of grace in this life and all the blessedness of eternal glory in the life to come are freely bestowed upon every believing sinner only as the result of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Substitute.”

How many times a day are my plans motivated by the attitude that ‘I can do this’ as if my efforts have any value at all, never mind any direction from God. The gospel reminds me that not only has the Lord Jesus Christ earned my eternal salvation, but I do not live by my own efforts — only by His incredible obedience on my behalf.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12–21)

I have the righteousness of Christ. If anything I do departs from that, it might seem insignificant, but increasing knowledge of Him makes me realize even more that His way, His life, His righteousness is so superior that all my excuses for not obeying Him ALL THE TIME is almost laughingly ridiculous if it wasn’t so pathetic.

Last night He showed me just how weak I am. A prayer request came without any ideas at all how to pray. Smarty-pants-me felt totally without resources, not even the smallest hint of what was needed or what person involved in the problem needed it. It was awful. But it made me very deeply aware that I need to operate in the Spirit of God all the time, even when feeling unwell, or even when fully aware of the details of a problem, or even when I think I know what God should do. Not asking Him is one thing. Asking but getting a silent ‘let’s see how you can handle this without Me’ is almost a terror.

PRAY: Lord, I’m now even more aware of how a person without the gospel can behave and struggle with every issue of life. You want me mentally on my knees, not telling You what to do, or even telling You what I want You to do. Instead, I must ask You what You want me to do, how to think, how to pray. The gospel is always the answer. Apart from You, I am useless and unable to do much of anything, even breathe never mind solve the problems around me. Jesus, I thank You for obeying at the Cross (and all the time) so I can even obey at all.