Finding Hope in Affliction: The Encouragement of Psalm 119:50

Finding Hope in Affliction: The Encouragement of Psalm 119:50

‘This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.’

Psalms 119:50

 

Psalm 119:50 reminds us that God’s promise gives us life and it is a comfort in our afflictions. This Psalm encourages us to find comfort in the word of God during difficult times and to trust in His promises to sustain us.

The Apostle Paul also reminds us of the importance of finding hope in the word of God in Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” This verse reminds us that the word of God is a source of our power, encouragement, and hope for us in difficult times.

As we meditate on God’s word, we can find comfort in His promises and hope in His love. Trust in the power of God’s word to sustain you during difficult times. Allow it to be your comfort and your hope.

 
 
 
Praying for all this day. May God protect you in all that you do today.

 

Resting in God’s Grace: Setting Aside the Burden of Working for Salvation

Resting in God’s Grace: Setting Aside the Burden of Working for Salvation

First and foremost, I meet and speak with multitudes of people who spend a good part of their daily experience working for their salvation! What a terrible way to live. Never knowing what sin will be the one that takes you out. Beloved, God won’t have it. God’s only requirement for salvation is that you believe by faith alone that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead three days later.

 

It is essential for Christians to fully understand the truth about salvation and the roles of grace and works. The apostle Paul, in multiple Bible verses, makes it clear that we can not work for our salvation, and that any attempt to do so nullifies the grace of God.

One of the most explicit verses on this topic is Ephesians 2:8-9, where Paul states “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” This verse clearly states that salvation is not earned through our own works, but it is a gift from God given through faith.

This message is reinforced in other verses such as Romans 3:28, where Paul states “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” and Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

It’s important to understand that this is not to say that good works are unnecessary or unimportant, but rather that they are the fruit of salvation and not the means by which we attain it. In James 2:14-26, the apostle James makes it clear that faith without works is dead, but that works flow naturally from salvation by grace.

In conclusion, the apostle Paul makes it clear that we can not work for our salvation, it is a gift from God given through faith, and any attempt to earn it through works nullifies the grace of God. Good works are important, but they are the fruit of salvation, not the means by which we attain it.

 

Get your Bible out and Study the Passages below:

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

James 2:14-26 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?… Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

 

 

 

 

 

Starting the Day with Praise: The Encouragement of Psalm 5:3

Starting the Day with Praise: The Encouragement of Psalm 5:3

‘My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord ; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.’

Psalms 5:3

 

Psalm 5:3 reminds us that in the morning, we can lay our requests before the Lord and wait expectantly for His answers. This Bible verse encourages us to start the day with praise and gratitude, setting our minds and hearts on God from the moment we wake up.

The Apostle Paul also reminds us of the importance of giving thanks to God in all things in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This verse encourages us to be thankful for all things and to give thanks to God in all circumstances, even in the morning especially when we lay our requests before Him.

Starting the day with praise and gratitude sets the tone for the rest of the day and helps us to focus on God’s love, strength, and faithfulness. As we praise God in the morning, we can trust that He will hear our requests and guide us through the day. Let’s start each day with praise and thanksgiving, and trust in God to direct our path ahead.

 

Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaotic World: The Power of John 14:27

Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaotic World: The Power of John 14:27

‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ‘

John 14:27

 

Get Out Your Bibles and Read these Verses

 

In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, it can be hard to find peace. But Scripture reminds us that we can find peace in Jesus. John 14:27 states, “‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This verse reminds us that Jesus offers us a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that transcends all understanding.

 

The Apostle Paul also reminds us of this peace in Philippians 4:6-7, where he states “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse shows us that through prayer and petition, we can find the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Additionally, in Colossians 3:15, Paul reminds us that “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for as members of one body you are called to peace.” This verse reminds us that the peace of Christ should rule in our hearts, and we should let it guide us in our daily lives. We maintain this by consistently reading, studying, and meditating on the word of God.

 

Takeaway

In times of chaos and uncertainty, we must turn to the word of God, study the Bible and find peace in Jesus Christ. He is the source of peace for us, a peace that the world cannot give, and through prayer, petition and thanksgiving, we can find peace in the midst of the chaos. Let’s trust in Jesus and find peace in Him, the Prince of Peace. The Bible encourages us to be thankful for this peace, let’s take advantage of the power of His word.

 

 

Stop Slandering God’s Grace – Accusing Believers of Living in Sin Because of Grace

Stop Slandering God’s Grace – Accusing Believers of Living in Sin Because of Grace

‘But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? ‘

Romans 3:7

 

As believers, you may or may not be familiar with the accusations that have been leveled against the gospel of grace throughout the centuries. One of the most persistent and pernicious of these accusations is that the gospel of grace somehow condones or even encourages sinful behavior. This is a misunderstanding of grace that is not only harmful to individual believers but also slanders the character of God and the finished work of the cross.

 

‘I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”’

Galatians 2:21

 

In Romans 3:7, Paul addresses these accusations head-on. He writes, “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?” In other words, Paul is asking how it is possible that he, a sinner, could be used by God to proclaim the truth of the gospel of the grace of God if the gospel itself is a lie. The answer, of course, is that the gospel of grace is not a lie, and Paul is not a sinner because of God’s grace. Ridiculous!

 

The accusations against Paul and the gospel of grace are rooted in a misunderstanding of what grace actually is. Grace is not a license to sin, but rather it is the free and unmerited favor of God. It is the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and it is offered to all people, Jews, and Gentiles alike. Grace does not negate the need for repentance and obedience (not for salvation), but rather it empowers believers to live a godly life because we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-5; 9-11).

 

It’s important to note that Paul faced many accusations and undermining during his ministry, from the leadership of Israel, the Romans, and even from some of the Jerusalem church, led by Peter, James, and John. In Acts 15:1–11 and Galatians 2, for example, the ascended Lord Jesus sends Paul to Jerusalem to confront Peter, James, and John, as well as the elders of the Jerusalem church, about sending spies into Paul’s Gentile congregations and commanding them to keep the law or they would not be saved. Horrors! The apostle Paul boldly tells Peter, James, and John what the gospel will be going forward, and the apostle Peter agrees (Acts 15:11).

 

The truth is that nothing has changed in the 2000 years since Paul wrote Romans 3:7. People are still misunderstanding and slandering the gospel of grace. They are still accusing believers of living in sin because of grace.

 

 

 

 

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