Romans 5:1-6

Scripture paints a grim picture of mankind apart from the Lord: dead in our sins, under God’s wrath, and subject to eternal separation from Him (Ephesians 2:1-3). Through the cross, we are given a second chance to be in a relationship with the Lord. When we trust in Christ, He pours out His unconditional love—and grace—upon us.

Because of grace, we have been justified by faith. Justification is a declaration by God that we are not guilty in His sight. At salvation, Jesus died on the cross and rescued us from the penalty for our transgressions. All our disobedience—past, present, and future—is fully forgiven.

We gain this remarkable pardon through genuine faith in Jesus Christ—in other words, by acknowledging God’s judgment that we are sinners who need a Savior because we’re unable to save ourselves. True faith rests on the belief that Jesus’s death atoned for our sins, God accepted His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf, and we are fully forgiven. Grace gives us peace with God. Because we’ve trusted in Christ, we’ve been adopted into the heavenly Father’s family (John 1:12-13) and have His favor forever.

Through grace, we have been offered a fresh start. May we make full use of this opportunity by passionately pursuing God with all our heart.

Romans 5:15-17

Paul wrote and spoke extensively about grace—God’s favor given to the undeserving. The apostle knew firsthand the freedom that Christ gives. He described himself as the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) because he persecuted many believers prior to his conversion.

Once we accept Christ’s death on our behalf, we’re reconciled to God, and sin’s power over us is broken. The Holy Spirit indwells us, and we become spiritually alive. We’re given a new family and purpose for living. Scripture likens our conversion experience to receiving a heart transplant (Ezekiel 36:26), changing citizenship (Philippians 3:20), and moving from darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13).

Our Father’s desire and will is that we relate to Him on the basis of grace alone (Ephesians 2:8). Just as we needed to rely on Christ’s gift for salvation, we are to live a life of dependence upon Him. It’s our faith, expressed through obedience, that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).

Grace is the most powerful, life-changing force in the world. God the Father freely offers His unconditional love to whoever receives His Son. At salvation, our life is placed upon the immovable Rock—Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4)—whose favor is extended to us.

Hebrews 10:19-23

God made many promises in the Bible. But there is confusion among Christians about which verses we can claim as a definite commitment from Him. Three questions are useful in determining whether divine promises apply to our personal situation:

1. Is this promise limited to a specific individual or circumstance, or does it apply to all believers? For example, the pledge made to Abraham and Sarah about the birth of their child (Genesis 18:10) is restricted to them. But Hebrews 13:5 contains a guarantee to all Christians that Jesus will be with them forever.

2. Are we asking the Lord to meet a need or a desire? A need is something that we must have in order for God to complete His work in our life. A desire is something we want for satisfaction.

3. Before fulfilling a promise, does God require some action on our part? Proverbs 3:5-6 is a conditional promise, which pledges God’s direction on the basis of our trust in Him. On the other hand, Jesus’ assurance of His presence with believers is unconditional; it does not depend on anything we do (Matthew 28:20).

By evaluating Scripture on the basis of these questions, we’re able to know which promises apply to our own circumstances. And remember: As 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3-4

God’s promises are precious (2 Pet. 1:4). Not only do they remind us of His personal interest in our life, but they also provide hope and encouragement during difficult times.

Before claiming a promise, we must check ourselves in three areas: faith, obedience, and patience. First, we must trust Jesus as our personal Savior. Next, we must obey God. As discussed in yesterday’s devotion, our obedience or action is required in order to claim conditional promises.  Finally, patience is required. God operates on His timetable to accomplish His purposes according to His perfect plan.

At times it may seem as if a divine promise is not being fulfilled. When that is the case, take another look at the biblical passage to be sure it applies to you. Then verify that you have met the necessary conditions. If you are still convinced the promise applies, look a little deeper at your request. Will God be honored when this promise is fulfilled? Will it help you grow spiritually? These additional questions will assist you in claiming a promise.

The Holy Spirit will build our faith through Scripture, provide the strength necessary to obey, and develop in us the fruit of patience. These qualities are necessary and will help us as we look to God to fulfill His promises.

Psalms 143:5-12

What’s the first thing you think about when you wake up? Are your thoughts instantly focused on the day ahead, or are they centered on the Lord? The most important and time-saving part of each day is that which is spent with our heavenly Father.

Yet many of us feel so rushed that we don’t think there’s enough time for God. We immediately begin our day but then wonder why we’re so confused and dissatisfied. Even if our desire is to follow God, we don’t know where He’s leading, since we never stopped to get directions for the day (Ps. 143:8). Without daily communication, no one can have intimacy with Christ.

Perhaps the problem is human logic. We think time spent reading and praying will result in having less time and lower productivity. However, when we stop to seek Christ’s direction and wisdom, He’ll accomplish more through us than we can do by ourselves. He will give us wisdom for good decisions, increase our strength and energy, and free us from time-wasting anxiety (Philippians 4:6).

Ask yourself, Am I too busy for the Lord? If the answer is yes, then you’re denying yourself the blessing of an intimate relationship with Christ. When you make time for Him, He’ll fill you with peace and joy, guide you, grant you wisdom, empower you to obey, make you more productive, and comfort you with His love.

Philippians 2:9-11

When Christ has first place in our life, we will experience many blessings. These include . . .

A Quiet Spirit. As we turn our attention to the Lord and meditate on His Word, He “leads [us] beside quiet waters,” where we find rest for our soul (Psalm 23:2). A quieted heart and mind make us better able to discern what God is saying to us.

• A Stronger Faith. Studying Scripture will enlarge our view of God and give us insight and direction. Our faith will grow as we follow His guidance and watch how He works on our behalf.

• A Purified Heart. Like a mirror, the Bible reflects back to us who we truly are and reveals where we need to change. When we confess our sin, God promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

• A Prepared Mind. God wants to prepare us for the future—both the joyous times and the hard ones. Through the Holy Spirit’s ministry, we will be equipped for whatever life brings (2 Peter 1:3).

Paul’s life demonstrates what it means to give Jesus first place. Because he made Christ the Lord of his life (Galatians 2:20), the apostle knew joy amid trials and received the strength to face turmoil and difficulty. These blessings will also be ours when we give highest priority to our relationship with Jesus.

1 Peter 2:22-25

Guilt can be defined as anxiety in one’s spirit over a deliberate, willful sin. We can trace this emotion all the way back to the garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit, they felt ashamed of their nakedness and hid themselves (Genesis 3:10).

In ancient Israel, people would “pay” for their wrong by sacrificing an animal’s life. Today we no longer need such a brutal way to release our guilt; God has provided a better solution. He sent His Son Jesus to make a way for us to be redeemed and brought into a right relationship with Him. Our Savior made atonement for us with His precious blood. And—praise God!—Jesus rose to life again, conquering death and sin.

The truth is, every one of us has sinned and was separated from God (Romans 3:23). However, we can be liberated from death and guilt by accepting Jesus’ free gift and committing our life to Him. Of course, in our imperfect human state, we won’t be perfectly sinless. But our loving heavenly Father will continue to forgive His children (Ephesians 1:7).

Jesus’ sacrifice gives us freedom from shame and death—plus the promise of eternity with God. Though we are promised forgiveness, our gratitude and love for our Savior should spur us on to repentance, obedience, and service to the Lord.

1 John 1:5-9

Yesterday, we saw that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we’re free from guilt. But at times we still feel ashamed. So let’s look a little deeper.

There are two types of guilt: biblical and false. The first originates with the violation of Scripture. This is not a feeling but a reality: We have sinned and should repent. The second, which involves continuing to feel guilty after confessing a sin, is not based in truth or supported by the Bible. God has forgiven us (Psalm 103:12), so there is no need to linger in shame.

People struggle with false guilt for many reasons. Legalistic teaching, for example, presents life as a series of rules that can never be followed perfectly. Self-reproach can also derive from verbal put-downs. Another cause is perfectionism—expectations we’re incapable of attaining can flood us with self-condemnation.  Guilt leads us to doubt God’s love and salvation, which paves the way for fear and insecurity and leaves us unable to enjoy life. It can also open the door to physical and mental stress.

The heavenly Father wants His children to live free from guilt (Romans 8:1). If you experience shame, ask Him to help you trace its cause. Then affirm these truths: You are special (made in God’s image and redeemed by Him), loved by the Creator of the universe, and forgiven.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Let the words from today’s reading slowly sink in: “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). What an amazing description of the Lord’s ability to work within us. Yet so often our focus is mainly on what we want Him to do—namely, that if He’d change this or fix that, then our life would be better. But He invites us to think and ask bigger—He wants to change us!

The Holy Spirit has more than enough power to transform lives from the inside out, but change within is usually a slow process. Spiritual fruit takes time to grow and mature. That’s why we need patience and faith to believe God is working even when results aren’t evident.

God has a purpose for your life, and He is constantly working to achieve it. He also has an overarching goal—to conform every believer to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). In order to do this, He may have to bring us through some struggles and heartaches. It might make no sense to us, but God knows exactly what He’s doing.

What would you like to see the Lord do within you? As you read the Scriptures, look for qualities that God considers precious, and ask Him to work them out in your life. Then rely on His wonderful promise to do even more than you have asked or imagined.

Most people would be honored to lead a nation. Perhaps Joshua felt that way, too. But there’s no doubt that he knew it would be a daunting task and responsibility. Yet he was determined to obey God no matter what.

The Hebrew people could be difficult. Not only did they grumble about food, water, safety, and rules; they also questioned Moses’ leadership and rebelled against God. Now Joshua—a man they once threatened to stone (Numbers 14:10)—was poised to lead them to their new home. It was a God-sized task indeed.

Ultimately, however, Joshua took up the mantle of leadership with courage, boldness, and resolve. He placed his faith in the Lord, who had never let the people down. Joshua fully expected God to be true to His word again and deliver them to the Promised Land.

No matter what challenge you are facing, God will enable you to tackle it bravely, calmly, and victoriously. Joshua’s courage was based upon years of seeing God’s faithfulness. Whether you’ve been a Christian for five minutes or 50 years, you can have the same confidence. The Bible promises that the Lord is sufficient to meet your needs and to keep your spirit secure all the way to heaven.

Perhaps the title of today’s devotion sounds like a self-help book promising comfort and wealth if you follow 10 easy steps. But when you consider how our culture defines the good things in life, you’ll realize that God’s definition isn’t the same—truly good things are achieved only by seeking Him. When we make God our top priority, we can expect His blessings of ...

• A deep love relationship. Those who earnestly seek God learn to know Him intimately and experience an amazing sense of oneness with Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

• Satisfaction. Only the Lord can fill the empty place in every heart. All earthly pursuits of pleasure or purpose fade in comparison to the satisfaction found in His presence.

• Joy. Seeking God results in joy that circumstances can’t steal, since it’s based on a believer’s relationship with Christ.

• Help. The Lord’s hand of favor is upon those who seek Him. He delights in coming to their aid and providing for them.

Are you experiencing these good things, or have other pursuits sidetracked you? Your thoughts reveal your priorities. If you habitually go all day without thinking of God, you’re not earnestly seeking Him. But when He’s the delight of your life, you won’t be able to forget Him.

A close relationship with the Lord doesn’t happen accidentally. It requires continual, deliberate decisions to pursue Him. Intimacy can’t be achieved in an inspiring weekend conference, nor can it be accomplished by reading a chapter or two of the Bible and praying indifferently. Seeking God is a lifetime commitment—day by day, year by year.

Too many believers are satisfied to have a shallow, superficial relationship with the Lord. They’ll approach God for relief from suffering or fulfillment of other needs but are unwilling to sit quietly for an extended period of time just getting to know Him through prayer and His Word. Yet the most important pursuit in a believer’s life is building a relationship with God. (See Ps. 27:4.) To forfeit this great blessing is a tragedy.

God doesn’t need anything from you, but He desires your loving devotion and intimate fellowship. Ask yourself, Is this what I want, too? If your answer is yes, are you willing to make the necessary commitment? Seeking the Lord cannot be something you hurry through or approach casually (Psalm 63:1). It will cost you time and effort, but the rewards are worth any sacrifice.

Exhaustion is a by-product of overcommitted schedules and endless responsibilities. That’s not what our Father wants for us. He offers a radically different mode of living and gives His followers renewed strength.

Those who wait on the Lord are promised His supernatural energy. In fact, Scripture says it will surpass the natural strength and endurance of the young (Isa. 40:29-30). Contrary to what we might think, access to this power is achieved not by moving faster but by going slower—taking the time to focus on God, seek His direction, and ask for His strength to accomplish what He’s calling us to do. There is no earthly explanation for what God is willing and able to achieve in and through a yielded human being. His Holy Spirit is like a powerful and refreshing gust of wind that enables us to soar like eagles (Psalm 103:5).

The next time you are at the point of exhaustion, take some time to focus on the Lord. Are you in step with Him, or have you gone ahead on your own? Align your pace with His, taking the time to rest when He wants you to, and receive the energy He freely offers to those who walk obediently in His will.

God has given us the privilege of calling on Him for all we need— what’s more, He’s promised to respond. He also encourages us to petition Him on behalf of others. And Scripture tells us that the prayers of a righteous person can accomplish much (James 5:16).

To pray powerfully, we must first accept God’s offer of salvation. Before redemption, we were unrighteous people under His judgment. But through faith in Jesus, we are made new and declared holy. Second, we must align our prayers with His will.

Let’s look at Elijah. The Lord sent him to defeat and humiliate the evil king Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal. This was a spiritual conflict to prove who was the real God—Baal or the Lord of Israel.

Elijah’s weapons were his knowledge of the Father’s plan and the authority he had in prayer as a prophet of God. His request that Jehovah would make Himself known—voiced publicly before his opponents—matched the Lord’s will (Exodus 7:5; 1 Kings 18:37). And when God responded to Elijah’s prayer, the people declared, “The Lord, He is God” (v. 39).

Are you a child of God? If so, you can pray with spiritual might by making sure your requests are in agreement with His will.

Yesterday, we looked at how Elijah boldly challenged the prophets of Baal. Today’s passage focuses on King Jehoshaphat, who learned an army was coming, sought God for direction and strength, and then called upon the nation to do likewise. Their examples teach what is required for prayer to be powerful:

• Dependence on God. Their petitions showed deep reliance upon the Lord. Knowing that victory was beyond their own abilities, they asked God to intervene.

• A focus on His plan. Elijah did things God’s way against tremendous odds and at great personal risk (1 Kings 19:1-2). Jehoshaphat called for the nation to fast as he sought the Lord’s plan. Because they looked to God for a strategy, both men had a clear goal that led them through the difficulties they faced.

• Purity of motive. The two leaders had God-centered intentions and a goal of furthering His purposes.

• Confidence in God’s faithfulness. Neither man hesitated to ask publicly for divine help. Elijah called on God to test the 450 enemy prophets, and Jehoshaphat instructed all of Israel to pray.

If your prayers seem to be having little impact, ask the Lord to help you follow the examples of Elijah and Jehoshaphat—and be ready for His answer.

Loneliness will creep into most lives at some point. However, as believers, we are never truly alone because God has given us an unfailing companion—the Holy Spirit.

None of us can truthfully promise always to be available; the realities of time, distance, and even death can separate people. Thankfully, by sending the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, Jesus keeps His promise to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Human beings were never meant to live alone. God designed us to be complete only when we are indwelt by His Spirit, which occurs upon our salvation. We can, however, choose to ignore the Holy Spirit. For example, some people stubbornly attempt to live the Christian life in their own strength or skip Bible reading when they find meditating on the Word inconvenient. That kind of life is marked by discontent: Peace will be fleeting, and loneliness will feel like the heart’s permanent resident.

The Holy Spirit is our parakletos, or companion who “walks beside.” If we hold Him at arm’s length, we distance ourselves from the Father as well. But if we ask the Spirit to guide our steps and open our mind to God’s plans, He will support and encourage us in ways we never imagined.

Victory is God’s will for the life of a believer. But sometimes we can find ourselves repeatedly falling into the same sin. If we want to do what is right, why do we continue to miss the mark?

One reason is incomplete repentance. It is possible for us to experience grief, embarrassment, and shame over sin without being truly repentant. Repentance isn’t a matter of weeping or feeling guilty; rather, it’s a change of mind about sin so that we no longer hold on to our own perspective but instead agree with God’s viewpoint. When we do this, the heart turns in the opposite direction from persistent wrongdoing (Proverbs 28:13).

The second reason for failure is an inadequate view of our identity in the Lord. We, as children of God, have Christ living within us. When we grasp this truth, we will recognize that sin does not fit who we are, and we’ll stop rationalizing our offenses. Our genuine repentance is based upon an honest and biblical understanding of our identity.

When we put these two truths together, we create a powerful tool against temptation. Our Father wants us to be victorious, and we triumph when we remember that Jesus Christ is the source of our life.

Matthew 6:9-15

After teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won’t be forgiven by the Father. Be careful not to misunderstand Jesus’ meaning here. We don’t lose our salvation when we refuse to pardon others. Rather, we break fellowship with God because an unrepentant attitude interferes with regular confession and turning away from sin.

Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. We don’t often feel like showing mercy to someone who’s wronged us—but that’s exactly what we’re called to do (Matthew 5:38-40). A resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment. As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude or actions.

A bitter spirit doesn’t fit who we are in Christ. That’s why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden—Jesus promised to make us free when we choose to believe and obey Him (John 8:31-32).

It’s tempting to think we don’t need much improvement. While many people concede they could probably use a little bit of “maintenance” in some areas, they will usually add, “But I’m a good person.” However, the truth is that the Father refuses to settle for humanity’s meager vision of “good enough.” He wants something so much better for us.

God sees each believer as the person he or she will be when fully yielded to Christ. He then sets about achieving that complete renovation by transforming the present self into the image of His Son (1 Corinthians 15:49). An essential step in God’s remodeling work involves removing whatever is ungodly in our life. This process is often uncomfortable, but it’s worth it! God targets habits, attitudes, and relationships that don’t honor Him. He applies pressure to direct our attention to those places so we’ll surrender them to Him.

Conforming our will to God’s changes who we are. In the midst of our transformation, pain from His tools may temporarily obscure the beauty of His design. But nothing is more splendid to the Lord than a committed, obey-no-matter-what follower. Submit to Him so that He might remake you into the son or daughter He has in mind.

How people view the gospel is greatly affected by Christians who act differently at church than they do elsewhere. The way we live should permeate all areas of life—even the workplace.

Our behavior reflects our faith. So if we claim to be a Christian, then our coworkers, bosses, and employees will equate our attitudes and actions with Jesus. Do those around you at the office see a positive reflection of God in your labors?

Let’s look at a scriptural model. For one thing, as we read in today’s passage, we should view ourselves as servants and put others’ needs before our own. Next, we must realize our true boss is Christ; therefore, we work with integrity and effort, knowing that our reward is from Him (Colossians 3:23). Then, since all authority on earth is God-given (Romans 13:1), we should obey our superiors gladly—unless, of course, our human boss tells us to do something that goes against Scripture. And finally, we’re to see that all those we work with and for have worth in the Creator’s eyes and should be treated with respect (1 John 4:7-8).

Even when tasks or coworkers are difficult, we are to work as if God is our boss. That means doing tasks with joy, a servant’s attitude, respect for others, and diligence. Imagine what the workplace could be if all believers approached their jobs this way.