ACCOMPLISHED

 

Write From My Heart

September 29, 2021

ACCOMPLISHED  succeeded in doing; completed

Isaiah 26:12 (NIV)  LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

            All too often we look at things we have accomplished and give ourselves a pat on the back for doing so well.  The reality is that it is the LORD God who provides strength, ability, skill, talent and provides the means whereby our efforts produce good works. Recently, after reaching a personal milestone, I found myself struck with awe at how the Lord stood by me and how his Spirit encouraged me and strengthened me every step of the way. He put key people in my pathway to offer assistance and encouragement when I faltered or wondered what step to take next. All that I have and all that I do is a direct result of his work in my life and I do not for a moment take that for granted.

            What I have learned is to honor God in all that I do. Give to him the honor and glory due his Name. Dedicate to him all the work and labor of my hands. I am confident that when you allow God to guide you, you will stand amazed to see how God works through his faithful servants. I am humbled to be a servant of the Lord.

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)  Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

DWELLING

 

Write From My Heart

September 28, 2021

DWELLING a place to live in; the place where one resides

Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

            Waking up to this verse gave me quite a jolt this morning. I’m not sure about you, but sometimes I wonder if my heart and my life are giving my Heavenly Father a decent place to reside. Sometimes “the place” is quite a mess. Sometimes it is neat and picked-up, but not really clean. I think you can see where I’m going with this morning’s devotion. When you are expecting company for an extended visit, you probably do a better job of cleaning up your home than you do on normal routine days. My heart tells me we do the same for our Heavenly Father. On days we plan to meet him—say, for example, on Sunday when we go to church—we probably do a better job of controlling our thoughts and attitudes than we do on other days of the week.

            Here’s the catch: When we give our life to Christ, we are making a lifetime commitment. We are asking God’s Spirit to reside within us forever. From that point forward “housekeeping” becomes a 24-7 responsibility. Will we still make messes? Sure, I believe it is unavoidable. Thanks be to God for his mercy endures forever!

Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV) I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

            In closing, I am reminded of a simple children’s chorus from many years ago:

Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus.

Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart Lord Jesus.

RECEIVE

 

Write From My Heart

September 24, 2021

RECEIVE  to accept as authentic, valid, etc.

John 1:10-13 (NIV) He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

            My heart tells me that this passage is often read with the mindset that we must receive (i.e., take as possession) Christ into our hearts. Yes, I have no dispute with this statement.  However I also see something deeper. Do we accept Christ as the only authentic, valid means whereby we must be saved? Too often I fear we take Christ into our hearts but still try to earn salvation by all the other things we do. We are always striving to do it our own way. Yet if we truly receive Christ as the only authentic, valid Savior; we must lay aside ourselves. It isn’t about self; it is about our Savior. The good we are able to do each day then becomes an extension of the Christian life, not the payment plan.

Acts 4:12 (NIV)  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

            Bottom line: You cannot be saved by your own name or good deeds—no matter how valiant your efforts—but only through the name of Jesus Christ. He is the only authentic, valid Savior. Your works do not make you a child of God. Only the work of Christ—his death and resurrection—can provide admission to the family of God.