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Thoughts in Worship 08.01.2017
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-08-01-2017
This is devotional thought number 39 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: The New Me
Here’s the question for consideration: Are my “good” works always a clear indicator that I know Jesus?
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21–23).
Do you feel good when someone pats you on the back for a job well done? Do you feel good when you receive an award for something you’ve done in your community, at work, or at your child’s school? Don’t get nervous. I am not going to say you’re evil for feeling good when people honor you. Do you congratulate yourself? Do you compare yourself to others and gloat? How about spiritually? Do you feel like God owes you something if you do what He says? Do you say one thing and do another?
The Bible is clear that everyone will receive a reward for the deeds done in the flesh. If we do God’s will, eventually He will give us the reward of which Jesus is worthy. If we follow our own ways, which seem right in our own eyes, or attempt to live a holy life in our own strength, we will receive the reward of eternal death. This is a conundrum if we don’t understand how faith and works relate.
Our theme text highlights a kind of person who tries to earn salvation. He performs his duties nominally, with the intent of recommending himself to God, but the weightier matters like justice, love for others, love for truth, and trust in Christ’s righteousness over his own, do not rate with Him. He deceives himself into believing that God owes him something. He does some seemingly good works, but does not have faith in God. Even worse, others in this class are doing out right counterfeit works and forging God’s signature on them. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
What’s so devastating about Jesus’ testimony of such people is that it does not need to be this way. He has given all He has to protect people from deception and self-righteousness. He has given His life and the power of the Holy Spirit to give us every advantage. He has given us His Word to be a lamp to lighten our pathway. The Father has loved us with the kind of love that can transform us from hopeless sinners into holy saints. So when, God forbid, some choose self-righteousness or deception, Jesus’ only response can be that He never knew them.
Choose to surrender your good works, sin habits, thoughts, feelings, and actions to God today. Let His testimony of you be, “This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-08-01-2017
This is devotional thought number 39 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: The New Me
Here’s the question for consideration: Are my “good” works always a clear indicator that I know Jesus?
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21–23).
Do you feel good when someone pats you on the back for a job well done? Do you feel good when you receive an award for something you’ve done in your community, at work, or at your child’s school? Don’t get nervous. I am not going to say you’re evil for feeling good when people honor you. Do you congratulate yourself? Do you compare yourself to others and gloat? How about spiritually? Do you feel like God owes you something if you do what He says? Do you say one thing and do another?
The Bible is clear that everyone will receive a reward for the deeds done in the flesh. If we do God’s will, eventually He will give us the reward of which Jesus is worthy. If we follow our own ways, which seem right in our own eyes, or attempt to live a holy life in our own strength, we will receive the reward of eternal death. This is a conundrum if we don’t understand how faith and works relate.
Our theme text highlights a kind of person who tries to earn salvation. He performs his duties nominally, with the intent of recommending himself to God, but the weightier matters like justice, love for others, love for truth, and trust in Christ’s righteousness over his own, do not rate with Him. He deceives himself into believing that God owes him something. He does some seemingly good works, but does not have faith in God. Even worse, others in this class are doing out right counterfeit works and forging God’s signature on them. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
What’s so devastating about Jesus’ testimony of such people is that it does not need to be this way. He has given all He has to protect people from deception and self-righteousness. He has given His life and the power of the Holy Spirit to give us every advantage. He has given us His Word to be a lamp to lighten our pathway. The Father has loved us with the kind of love that can transform us from hopeless sinners into holy saints. So when, God forbid, some choose self-righteousness or deception, Jesus’ only response can be that He never knew them.
Choose to surrender your good works, sin habits, thoughts, feelings, and actions to God today. Let His testimony of you be, “This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
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Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-08-01-2017
This is devotional thought number 39 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: The New Me
Here’s the question for consideration: Are my “good” works always a clear indicator that I know Jesus?
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21–23).
Do you feel good when someone pats you on the back for a job well done? Do you feel good when you receive an award for something you’ve done in your community, at work, or at your child’s school? Don’t get nervous. I am not going to say you’re evil for feeling good when people honor you. Do you congratulate yourself? Do you compare yourself to others and gloat? How about spiritually? Do you feel like God owes you something if you do what He says? Do you say one thing and do another?
The Bible is clear that everyone will receive a reward for the deeds done in the flesh. If we do God’s will, eventually He will give us the reward of which Jesus is worthy. If we follow our own ways, which seem right in our own eyes, or attempt to live a holy life in our own strength, we will receive the reward of eternal death. This is a conundrum if we don’t understand how faith and works relate.
Our theme text highlights a kind of person who tries to earn salvation. He performs his duties nominally, with the intent of recommending himself to God, but the weightier matters like justice, love for others, love for truth, and trust in Christ’s righteousness over his own, do not rate with Him. He deceives himself into believing that God owes him something. He does some seemingly good works, but does not have faith in God. Even worse, others in this class are doing out right counterfeit works and forging God’s signature on them. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
What’s so devastating about Jesus’ testimony of such people is that it does not need to be this way. He has given all He has to protect people from deception and self-righteousness. He has given His life and the power of the Holy Spirit to give us every advantage. He has given us His Word to be a lamp to lighten our pathway. The Father has loved us with the kind of love that can transform us from hopeless sinners into holy saints. So when, God forbid, some choose self-righteousness or deception, Jesus’ only response can be that He never knew them.
Choose to surrender your good works, sin habits, thoughts, feelings, and actions to God today. Let His testimony of you be, “This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-08-01-2017
This is devotional thought number 39 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: The New Me
Here’s the question for consideration: Are my “good” works always a clear indicator that I know Jesus?
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21–23).
Do you feel good when someone pats you on the back for a job well done? Do you feel good when you receive an award for something you’ve done in your community, at work, or at your child’s school? Don’t get nervous. I am not going to say you’re evil for feeling good when people honor you. Do you congratulate yourself? Do you compare yourself to others and gloat? How about spiritually? Do you feel like God owes you something if you do what He says? Do you say one thing and do another?
The Bible is clear that everyone will receive a reward for the deeds done in the flesh. If we do God’s will, eventually He will give us the reward of which Jesus is worthy. If we follow our own ways, which seem right in our own eyes, or attempt to live a holy life in our own strength, we will receive the reward of eternal death. This is a conundrum if we don’t understand how faith and works relate.
Our theme text highlights a kind of person who tries to earn salvation. He performs his duties nominally, with the intent of recommending himself to God, but the weightier matters like justice, love for others, love for truth, and trust in Christ’s righteousness over his own, do not rate with Him. He deceives himself into believing that God owes him something. He does some seemingly good works, but does not have faith in God. Even worse, others in this class are doing out right counterfeit works and forging God’s signature on them. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
What’s so devastating about Jesus’ testimony of such people is that it does not need to be this way. He has given all He has to protect people from deception and self-righteousness. He has given His life and the power of the Holy Spirit to give us every advantage. He has given us His Word to be a lamp to lighten our pathway. The Father has loved us with the kind of love that can transform us from hopeless sinners into holy saints. So when, God forbid, some choose self-righteousness or deception, Jesus’ only response can be that He never knew them.
Choose to surrender your good works, sin habits, thoughts, feelings, and actions to God today. Let His testimony of you be, “This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)