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Must We Earn It?

5/16/2023

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TRYING TO EARN YOUR SALVATION?
“…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began… (2 Tim. 1:9)
 
The grace of God is challenging to comprehend, even for Christians. Although most of us understand that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:5), we sometimes feel the need to DO SOMETHING to help “deserve” or “earn” it.
 
A preacher friend told me about a faithful sister-in-Christ that confided to him that she was uncertain about her salvation, despite the fact that she was as faithful as anyone in that church. Why? She confessed that she had been contributing large sums of money to the church without her husband's knowledge. Although she felt that it was wrong to keep this from her husband, she also believed that she needed to “give more in order to be saved”.
 
In other words, she felt that she might not be “doing enough” to be saved. And she is not alone in that respect. Many Christians experience similar feelings.
 
Don’t misunderstand; as Christians we must strive to obey God as long as we live. Faith without works is dead – James 2:20, 26. On the other hand, our works demonstrate our faith in God and Christ. But they do not in any way EARN our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).
 
If you have obeyed the gospel - by believing that Jesus is the Son of God, repenting of your sins, confessing your faith in Christ, were baptized to wash away your sins, and continue to obey Jesus – then you are on your way to heaven! You can depend on the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and thank God for His amazing grace. Don’t try to be deserving; just be faithful until death – Rev. 2:10.
 
A Recommitted Me in 2023,
 
Dennis

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Moms

5/16/2023

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What Would We Do Without Mothers?  
   
“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.” (Prov. 31:10)  
   
A man returned home from work one rainy afternoon and was shocked to find his three young children in the yard, still in pajamas, soaked and playing in the mud. Rushing into the house, he could hardly believe his eyes. The family room was cluttered with toys, coloring books, half-eaten snacks and dirty clothes. In the kitchen, cereal dotted the floor, syrup dripped from the counter, dishes filled the sink, and the refrigerator door was standing wide open.  
   
He ran upstairs, stumbling over toys and more dirty clothes. He was stunned to see water trickling from the bathroom. Peering within he saw soaked towels, wet tissue, spilled shampoo and bath toys scattered on the floor. The mirror was smeared with toothpaste.  
   
“Something horrible has happened", he thought. "Perhaps my wife passed out or is very ill. As he dashed to the master bedroom, he was astonished to find his wife curled up in bed, reading a novel and wating popcorn. She glanced up, smiled, and welcomed him home. Incredulously, he exclaimed, “What is going on around here?” She calmly replied, “Honey, when you return from work each day, you always ask if I've done anything useful all day. Well, today, I didn’t!”  
   
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This story remind us of the many vital things that mothers do which husbands (and children) often take for granted. Let’s make it a point to constantly thank mothers for all the essential things they do each day. We'd be "lost" without them!  
   
A recommitted me in 2023!  
   
Dennis
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Which Road?

5/16/2023

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LESS TRAVELED ROAD  
   
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).  
   
***********************************************************************************  
   
Some of us have heard stories about the wreckless driving habits of some New Yorkers. One oft-repeated tale concerns a man that was stopped after driving the WRONG WAY on Madison Avenue (one of the busiest streets in the city). When the police officer approached the stopped driver, he asked, “And where do you think you are going?”  The inebriated driver replied, “Wherever it is, I’m late! Everyone else is coming back."  
   
***********************************************************************************  
   
Apart from the aforementioned story, going in the opposite direction of the majority is not always a bad idea. Jesus said, "…wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).  
   
Moreover, it has been said that the WIDEST LANE to hell is labeled, “Everybody’s doing it!”  The Bible describes it this way, “…the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).  
   
A popular poster once featured a solitary fish swimming in the opposite direction of a school of fish that were hurrying toward a baited hook. The caption read, "Smart Fish Go Against the Flow." Spiritually speaking, this is invariably true. Luke 13:23-24 states, “Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And (Jesus) said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”  
   
Although narrow, difficult roads are rarely popular, may we remain on the road (Jesus Christ) that will lead us to heaven.  
   
A Recommitted Me in 2023!  
   
Dennis
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