“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Romans 9:6-7
To truly be a part of God’s people of Israel, it is not enough to be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; one must share in the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and trust in God’s promise to send a Savior to redeem fallen mankind. The same is true today. Holding membership in a Christian church does not make one a Christian; one must repent of his sinful ways and trust in Christ Jesus and His cross for forgiveness and life to be a true Christian and child of God (cf. Gal. 3:26ff.).
O Spirit of God, through Your life-giving Word, create in me faith in Christ Jesus that I might be a true Israelite and true Christian. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
How important it is to guard our hearts — to fill them with the Word of God and to keep them from the allurements of this world! If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit by continuing in His Word, we will reap life everlasting through faith in Christ Jesus!
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I guard my heart and let it be filled with the truth of Your saving Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” John 1:46
Even though Philip yet had much to learn about Jesus, he told Nathanael they had found the one about whom Moses and the prophets had written. When Nathanael questioned him, Philip simply responded, “Come and see.” Even if we cannot answer every question about Jesus, who He is, and what He has done, we can still invite people to “come and see.”
Lord God, grant that we believe that Jesus is our God our Savior and invite others to “come and see.” Amen.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
What is the Gospel? It is the faith-producing message of God’s Word revealing the perfect righteousness of God imputed to all those who look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. It is a righteousness of faith and not of our failed works under the law; and it is revealed to faith — to those who, by God’s grace, believe God’s promise to justify and save those who trust in Christ Jesus.
O gracious God, grant me faith in the Gospel message that I may trust in Christ Jesus and His cross and be counted righteous and acceptable in Thy sight. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” Proverbs 4:18-19 KJV
The path upon which those who acknowledge their sins and look to Christ and His cross for mercy and forgiveness is brightly lit and shines brighter and brighter as they draw nearer the day when Christ receives them into glory. The way upon which the unbelieving walk is so dark they can’t even see the error of their ways or the eternal doom ahead of them.
By Your Word, O Lord, open my eyes to the truth and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
