| Today's Bible Verse |
| "Then said they unto him, What
shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work
of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
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John 6:28-29 King James
Version (KJV)
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| Today's Bible Study |
Christians can easily get
caught up in works, which I know are important.
Today I searched the New Testament for
references to good works.
In the letters written by Paul and others,
“good works” are mentioned several times.
2 Corinthians 9:8 admonishes us to abound in
every good work.
Ephesians 2:10 says we were created in Christ
Jesus for good works.
Colossians 1:10 encourages Christians to be
fruitful in all good work.
I then scanned the Gospels (Matthew--John) to
find passages relating to work or works.
I found over 20 references to works done by
Jesus or God.
Two references to works done by John the
Baptist.
One reference to works done by Abraham.
Two references to the work done by a woman with
an alabaster box of ointment.
The “work” of the only commonplace person on
this list was the action of the woman who, out
of her deep belief, honored Jesus with her own
special gift (Mark14:3-9).
Yes, we must, in love, keep feeding the poor,
tending the sick, providing help to widows and
orphans, and giving to support the church. But
all our righteous acts are as filthy rags
(Isaiah 64:6). They will not save us. Salvation
comes only through Christ.
“But, Jesus,” I ask, “how can I work the
works
of God?”
Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that
ye believe on him whom he has sent.”
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| Today's Prayer |
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| Lord, like the father of the sick boy
mentioned in Mark 9, I say, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine
unbelief.” Through Jesus I pray, Amen.
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| Yesterday's Bible
Verse |
| "For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
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John 3:16 King James
Version (KJV)
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| Yesterday's Bible
Study |
Most long-time Christians
have
memorized today’s verse, John 3:16.
That verse is easy to memorize but its truth
can be
hard to accept.
I have never lived anywhere except the United
States. Here, in this western culture, we are
taught from a young age that people should earn
what they receive.
As a child, I routinely heard statements like
these: There’s no such thing as a free
lunch. If
a
man won’t work, he shouldn’t eat. God helps
those
who help themselves.
My parents and teachers said these things to me
to
discourage laziness. They emphasized the need
for
me to carry my share of the load and not to
expect
handouts.
This mindset of “earning what you get” causes
some
people to struggle with John 3:16. They say or
think things like this: “God can’t possibly
love
me. I don’t deserve it.”
Nowhere in the Bible are we told we must earn
God’s
love. We don’t need to earn it because it is
already ours.
Until we believe and really soak up the truth
that
God loves us, we will find obedience hard. We
will
always work to perform a little bit better,
trying
to earn His love.
Know that God loves you now, wherever and
whoever
you are. Then determine to live an obedient
life,
not so you can earn God’s love, but because you
already have it.
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| Yesterday's Prayer |
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| God, I make my Christian walk hard when I
doubt Your love for me. Help me live with a deep, permeating
belief in Your unearned love. Help me serve You from a heart of
gratitude and not from a desire to earn Your love. Amen.
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