Something to Boast About

By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The New Testament correlates faith and grace to make sure that we do not boast in what grace alone achieves.

One of the most familiar examples is Ephesians 2:8. By grace, through faith. There’s the correlation that guards the freedom of grace. By grace, through faith.

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own insufficiency to the free and all-sufficient resources of God. Faith focuses on the freedom of God to dispense grace to the unworthy. It banks on the bounty of God.

Therefore faith, by its very nature, nullifies boasting and fits with grace. Wherever faith looks, it sees grace behind every praiseworthy act. So it cannot boast, except in the Lord. The author of grace.

So Paul, after saying that salvation is by grace through faith, says, “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith cannot boast in human goodness or competence or wisdom, because faith focuses on the free, all-supplying grace of God. Whatever goodness faith sees, it sees as the fruit of grace.

When it looks at our “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” it says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31).

John Piper 

6 blessings God wants to give you

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day. And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Deuteronomy 11:26-28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What a thought! God sets before us this day two alternatives: a blessing and a curse. What determines whether or not you receive the blessing? If you obey. What determines that you’ll receive the curse instead? If you disobey.

God has 6 blessings to give you today in exchange for your obedience:

plenty (Isaiah 1:19-20)

peace (Jeremiah 26:13)

protection (Exodus 23:22)

power (Acts 5:32)

purity (1 Peter 1:22)

perception (Psalm 119:100)

ACTION POINT:

Do you want Jesus to be real to you, not just someone you know or read about? Maybe you want to do more than just “pray” to Him; perhaps you want to talk to Him, and you want to relate to Him. Then read John 14:23 and obey Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When God Goes Against His Will

But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. (1 Samuel 2:25)

The sons of Eli the priest would not obey their father when he rebuked them for their sin. There are three implications of this text for our lives.

1) It is possible to sin so long and so grievously that the Lord will not grant repentance.

That is why Paul said that after all our pleading and teaching, “God may perhaps grant them repentance” — not, “will grant them repentance” (2 Timothy 2:25). There is a “too late” in the life of sin. As it says of Esau in Hebrews 12:17, “He found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” He was forsaken; he could not repent.

This does not mean that those who truly repent even after a whole lifetime of sinning cannot be saved. They certainly can be, and will be! God is staggeringly merciful. Remember the thief on the cross. Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

2) Sometimes God does not permit a sinning person to do what is right.

“But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.” Listening to the voice of their father was the right thing to do. But they would not. Why? “For it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.”

The reason given for why they did not obey their father was that God had other purposes for them, and had given them up to sinning and death. This shows that there are times when the will of God’s decree is different from the revealed will of God’s command.

3) Sometimes our prayers for God’s revealed will to be done will not be done because God has decreed something different for holy and wise purposes.

I suppose that Eli prayed for his sons to be changed. That is how he should have prayed. But God had decreed that Hophni and Phinehas not obey, but rather be slain.

When something like this happens (which we do not ordinarily know ahead of time) while we are crying out to God for change, the answer of God is not: “I don’t love you.” Rather the answer is: “I have wise and holy purposes in not overcoming this sin and not granting repentance. You do not see these purposes now. Trust me. I know what I am doing. I love you.”

John Piper 

Returning to Your First Love

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent. Revelation 2:5a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I got pulled over by the police on my honeymoon. My wife Joyce and I were driving south from Daytona Beach on our way back to West Palm Beach, and I was so in love with her, I had two eyes on her and no eyes on the road. 

A policeman hailed me over and told me I had broken the 35 mph speed limit. I was surprised because I hadn’t seen a sign that changed the limit from 55 to 35. He said, “All right, young man, here’s what I want you to do. Turn around and drive back about three blocks. Look at the sign and go on.” That was my punishment.

The officer made me go back before I could go on. Did you know that the word “repent” literally means to turn around and go in the opposite direction?

That’s exactly what our Lord is saying to the church in Revelation 2: 4-5.

 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent…”

What’s he saying?

 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Think about those times of your first love (how different now!) and turn back to me again…” 

ACTION POINT:

The Lord Jesus Christ is telling us to return to our first love, a passionate love for Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Payout for Patience

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37–50 is a great lesson in why we should have faith in the sovereign, future grace of God.

Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, which must have tested his patience tremendously. But he is given a good job in Potiphar’s house in Egypt. Then, when he is acting uprightly in the unplanned place of obedience, Potiphar’s wife lies about his integrity and has him thrown into prison — another great trial to his patience.

But again things turn for the better, and the prison keeper gives him responsibility and respect. But just when he thinks he is about to get a reprieve from Pharaoh’s cupbearer, whose dream he interpreted, the cupbearer forgets him for two more years. Another painful trial to his patience.

Finally, the meaning of all these detours and delays becomes clear. Joseph is raised up to be the leader of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. He ends up saving from starvation the very brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph says to his long-estranged brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. . . . As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive” (Genesis 45:7; 50:20).

What would have been the key to patience for Joseph during all those long years of exile and abuse? The answer is: faith in God’s sovereign, future grace — the sovereign grace of God to turn the unplanned place and the unplanned pace into the happiest ending imaginable.

That’s the key to our patience as well. Do we believe that God is working for us in the strangest and most painful turns of our lives?

John Piper 

Do you love Jesus but not the church?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And I [Jesus] say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Many people say, “I believe in Jesus, but I just don’t believe in the church.” That’s like saying, “I believe in football, but I just don’t believe in stadiums, the gridiron, goal posts, and shoulder pads.”

Jesus loves the church. He gave His life for the church. If you are ever going to be victorious in the spiritual battles of life, you must realize that Christianity is not a “Lone Ranger” religion. The church is here to band together and win the battle together.

Sabine Baring-Gould wrote the famous hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers.” One stanza really stands out in this regard: “Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, but the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never against that church prevail. We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.”

ACTION POINT:

Jesus loves the Church, which is His body.  If we love Jesus, we will love what He loves.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Being Satisfied

In the stillness, the quietness, the calmness that only the Lord brings, I rest.

Not knowing what the moment brings, I wait.

Praising God that He alone satisfies.

Let me know You Lord, intimately, as You know me.

I see chaos everywhere as man tries to change Your way of peace to one that ends in destruction.

Oh Lord, have mercy!

The wickedness of man is great.

We need You Jesus every moment of every hour!

15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 

16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 

20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.  - Psalm 145:15-21

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  - Psalm 91:1-2

14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."  - Psalm 91:14-16

Reckless unsatisfied people:

God alone sustains! 

What sustains you?

Where do you worship, who gets the glory?

Things?

Men?

The one true living God?

11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"

12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,

15 "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. - Acts 14:11-18

5 The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable. 

6 For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink. 

7 As for the scoundrel-his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right. 

8 But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.  - Isaiah 32:5-8

The promise of satisfaction:

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. - John 6:35

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.  - Psalm 107:9

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! 

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 

28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.  - Psalm 22:26-28

8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  - Psalm 16:8-11

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

4 And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.  - Isaiah 12:3-4

13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:13-14

Jesus alone satisfies!