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October, 27 - Daily Devotions
October Scripture Portion: Matthew chapter 1 - Luke chapter 22 including the Gospel according to Mark.
Chapter 12 contains the parable of the rich fool. The lesson found here can be of great benefit to us today. In the hustle and bustle of today's society, men are much more concerned about themselves and their possessions than they are about God. There are people who worry about food, clothing, and other material things, while God is asking us to consider the lilies of the fields and how they grow. They toil not, yet God cares for them.
Verse 31 says, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." If God cares for the lilies, the grass, and the ravens, how much more He must care for us! If every Christian would learn to really trust God with his entire life, then God could make something wonderful of that life. But all too often we try to take control and direct our own steps, rather than letting God have His way. To have a successful Christian life, we must submit ourselves to the leadership of the Holy Spirit ; we must, by faith, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then we can rest assured that all our needs will be supplied.
Chapter 13:3,5 contains God's prerequisite for salvation. These verses tell us that unless we repent we shall all perish. Repentance is a definite part of salvation. In Acts 20:21 we read of the Apostle Paul testifying to both the Jews and Greeks that they should repent and have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus put so much emphasis upon repentance that we must realize its necessity for salvation. Many people today have repentance confused with confession. Confession is the act of admitting to being wrong. Repentance goes a step further. Not only is wrongdoing admitted to God, but repentance means turning away from that wrong, turning to God, and asking for forgiveness. Jesus says that sin must not only be confessed; but a person must turn away from that sin and turn to God, asking His forgiveness, in order to receive salvation.
Many people whom I have met have said of the many times they have confessed their sin to the Lord. They did not realize they could not get peace in their hearts, because they did not know they must go a step further than confession in order to be forgiven of their sins.
After repentance we must place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In other words, Bible faith is believing what God has said concerning His Son, and trusting Him for salvation. Christ died on the cross that we might not be condemned. When we are willing to come to Him, in faith believing, He will give us everlasting life. Jesus says in John 6:37, "...and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." We must have faith in this promise; we must believe it in order for it to be applied to our lives.
The world today is searching for peace in many different ways. The only way to real peace and happiness is through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Salvation is a gift. It is my prayer that you have received Christ as your personal Saviour. If you have not, won't you believe His Word and trust in Him today? Won't you, just now, acknowledge your sins to God; turn away from those sins, and turn to Him for forgiveness and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for your salvation? This is the way to happiness! This is the way to everlasting joy and peace! Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Do you have peace in your heart? If not, my prayer for you is that you will ask Christ to come into your life.
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY: Man now can be: Justified.
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
