Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, June 24, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-06-24-2018

This is devotional thought number 69 in our devotional series titled, “The Gospel According to Paul.”

“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.” (2 Timothy 1:9–10, NLT).

God could have let us die, but He didn’t. God could have let us suffer all the consequences of our sins, but He didn’t. He didn’t have to love us so much that He gave us the life and ministry of His dear Son, Jesus, but He did. He did not have to give us the comfort of the Holy Spirit, but He did. He is not obligated to save us, but He will if we keep the faith. Isn’t God good?

I am encouraged by this letter from Paul to Timothy because he underscores God’s forethought in saving us. Since before the foundations of the world, our loving God mapped out each of our roads to eternal success. Through Christ, God broke the back of death and separation from Him. He displayed the highest order of love, not because we deserved it, but because He promised He would. He promised to save all who live by faith in Him.

I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, are you?—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)