Lent has lasted now for six weeks. Have you learned anything new? I’ve come to understand more deeply it’s all about God. My contribution to my salvation is my need to be saved. God has provided everything else. It’s God’s grace from start to finish. We all need God and his grace. There has not been, is not, and will not be a human being who does not Jesus to save him. Just think about Peter who had a fundamental…
Today I was thinking about God’s goodness. How God has chosen us in Christ even before he made the world. He prepared salvation for us through Jesus so we could be united with him. Amazing. The fact is, we bring nothing to the table except our sin and need to be rescued. Jesus brings everything, all the spiritual blessings, all the good things and then some. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed…
At first sight, this text has nothing to do with undeserved grace or does it? I was astonied by this year’s (B) lectionary reading. Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging…
How do you respond to your computer’s update requests? Do you delay them? An hour? Until tomorrow? Next week? I keep doing it. Pushing the inevitable to a later date. Then I got thinking, do we do that to our faith too? Do we delay the needed conversion or updating of our faith? Has your faith become an I-do-it-later kind of faith? Do you delay going to God until you have got your act together or when you have more…
Are you in need of encouragement or otherwise ready for some inspiration? You’ve come to the right place. Not that I, personally, have that kind of power but God’s Word does. So I’ll share with you a Bible verse that is packed with power to encourage and inspire. Isn’t it amazing that just a verse can do that? That’s God’s Word for you: power-packed grace for all who read it; encouragement and inspiration for the journey. Here you are: Even…
Last week I wrote about how believing needs to begin again every morning. That’s why none of us can boast of our faith, we are all beggars of grace. But this does not mean that we weren’t called to grow in faith. Faith is not a pill we swallow once in our lifetime. Rather it is an organic connection with God we are all invited to enter. And this is where we can grow in faith. We are called to…
Sometimes we make simple things complicated. Unfortunately, we do that to faith too. And by doing so we create a new religion of works. But salvation is really simple. So simple that even a child can understand. It’s based on the work of Jesus, not ours. Because Jesus died for our sins, we can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. We just need to believe. And stand by faith. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in…
Do you ever wonder if you’re getting into heaven by accident or, at least, not by your own merit but somebody else’s? Congratulations are in order if you realize it is Jesus’ merits that get you into heaven. Not yours on anybody else’s. So relax, all is done. There’s no hurry in grace. For 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. (Eph. 2:8-9, ESV)…
Do you consider yourself worthy of God’s love and grace? Worthy of eternal life and other God’s blessings? I hope so. Because then you’re open to God and to salvation by grace and not by merit. Let me explain. I love reading the Acts during the Easter season. It’s great to see what disciples did after the resurrection of Jesus. Today a few words from Paul and Barnabas’ message to the Jews touched my heart and got me thinking. Then…
I have a question for you. What does it mean to you to be a Christian? Is your life somehow different? I hope so. Why would you otherwise claim to be a Christian if not for a redeemed life, right? William Wilberforce has said “It makes no sense to take the name of Christian and not cling to Christ. Jesus is not some magic charm to wear like a piece of jewelry we think will give us good luck. He…
