Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Dangerous Liberty

 “Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.”  1 Peter 1:17,

Each life is . . . a story to be written.

The Author starts each life story, but each life will write his or her own ending.

What a dangerous liberty. How much safer it would have been to finish the story for each Adam. To script every opinion. It would have been simpler. It would have been safer.

But it would not have been love.

Love is only love if chosen.

Second Birth 

 “God is being patient with you . . . He wants all people to change their hearts and lives.”  2 Peter 3:9
In many ways your new birth is like your first: In your new birth God provides what you need; someone else feels the pain, and someone else does the work. And just as parents are patient with their newborn, so God is patient with you. But there is one difference. The first time you had no choice about being born; this time you do.

The power is God’s. The effort is God’s. The pain is God’s. But the choice is yours.

Only Through the Cross 

 “We have freedom now, because Christ made us free.” Galatians 5:1

Some teach that we earn God’s favor by what we know (intellectualism). Others insist we are saved by what we do (moralism). Still others that salvation is determined by what we feel (emotionalism).
However you package it, Paul contests, salvation comes only through the cross—no additions, no alterations.

Crumbs of Time 

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. —Daniel 6:10

God desires a relationship with us. In the morning we can invite Him into our day, and then we can praise Him and ask Him for His help throughout the day. At other times we can treasure some time alone with Him and reflect on His faithfulness. As we spend time with God in prayer and in His Word, we grow in our relationship with Him and learn to become more and more like Him. As time with God becomes a priority, we enjoy His company more and more.

Dear Father, I want to have an intimate relationship with You. I invite You to be part of my entire day—from the time I awake until I go to sleep.

‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31’

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