The Lord is Faithful to Us

Photo by MoM Fotografie

Scripture: Hosea 6:3

“So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.  His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

Insights: Today’s verse speaks to the faithfulness and dependability of the Lord.  He is going to come just as the dawn comes.  Whether we can actually see the dawn does not change the fact the dawn comes every morning.  The sun rises every day like clock work and it is always dependable.  It is true that there are exceptions, but as a regular rule, the rainy seasons come like clock work as well.  The farmers truly depend on those rains in order for their crops to grow and for them to have food for the remainder of the year.  God is even more dependable and faithful than these natural occurrences of the world.  If we return to Him, He is always faithful to receive us back.  If we cry out to Him, He is always faithful to hear the prayers of His children.  God is dependable and good and He is faithful to His promises as well.  He will take care of us and provide for our needs.  He will guide and direct us if we will humble ourselves and listen to Him.  He will eventually take His children home with Him to paradise.  He is faithful to never lose one whom He has adopted.  Beloved, you can trust the faithful dependence of our Lord.  May you grow in His grace until you truly come to know the certainty of this truth.

Questions:

1. Have you experienced the incredible joy of the Lord’s faithfulness in your life?

2. In what ways can you give testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness to you?

Prayer: Father, You are always faithful and I am truly thankful for Your dependability.  I know I can always rely on You in ever situation of my life. Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

The Lord Heals Us

Photo by Romel

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-2

Come, let us return to the Lord.  For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.  “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.

Insights: I love this dimension of the Lord.  Let me make a clarifying comment before I share this aspect of the Lord that is so agreeable with me.  God is perfect in all of who He is.  He is self-sufficient and in need of no one or any thing.  His character is unchanging and He is always true to Himself.  These facts mean that God is never in contradiction with Himself.  As a result, God is perfectly just in His holiness and expressions of wrath and judgment.  He is at the exact same time perfectly just in His grace and expressions of mercy and forgiveness.  Now that I have given some clarifying comments, let me explain what I love about the Lord which is found in today’s verses.  The nuance of the Lord that I love so much is His amazing grace.  You will recall from yesterday that God disciplined His children for their rebellion and sin.  Now, however, they have turned back to the Lord and even though they had been torn and wounded by the Lord, God is now extending grace by healing and bandaging up their wounds.  God always extends grace to the repentant heart.  In fact it is His desire to continually display mercy and grace.  There is literally no sin that grips us that puts us beyond the scope of receiving God’s amazing grace.  The most violent murderer would experience God’s grace if he would genuinely repent of his sins and turn to the Lord.  The most disgusting sex trafficker would experience God’s grace if he would surrender to the Lord’s healing hand.  God loves His creation and desires for all of His creation to know Him.  All we have to do is turn to Him and He would restore us to Himself.  I hope and pray you experience God’s amazing grace.

Questions:

1. Have you experienced the incredible joy of the Lord’s healing in your life?

2. If you have walked away from the Lord,what is holding you back from returning and receiving His amazing grace?

Prayer: Father, Your healing grace is amazing and I am so grateful You extend it to me.  Let me experience it anew every day as I walk with You. Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

The Lord Disciplines Us

Photo by Anders Sandberg

Scripture: Hosea 5:14-15

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah.  I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver.  I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.

Insights: It is important to remember that the first part of the book of Hosea shows the real life situation between Hosea and his wife Gomer.  As the book unfolds, God moves it to the real life situation between Him and His chosen people Israel.  In today’s verses we see the Lord disciplining His children for their rebellion and pursuit after false gods.  He informed them that He Himself was going to be the One to tear them them to pieces.  He also told them He was going to remove His presence from them and allow them to experience life without His mercy and grace.  God was going to let them stay in this very difficult situation until they acknowledged their guilt and turned back to Him.  Beloved, the Lord works the same way in our lives as well.  God knows the best path and way of life for us.  We, unfortunately, just like the children of Israel, turn away from God’s ways and then wonder why our lives are under the disciplining hand of God.  It is a good and loving parent that disciplines his child.  God is the perfect parent and He is the best Father ever.  Learn to quickly turn from your disobedience when you experience God’s hand of discipline and turn back to Him.

Questions:

1. In what ways have you experienced the disciplines of the Lord?

2. As you have felt His discipline, have you returned to Him?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your disciplining hand.  I don’t enjoy experiencing it, but am grateful You give it to me when I am walking away from you.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Lead Me, O God

Photo by Grant MacDonald

Scripture: Psalm 139:24b

And lead me in the everlasting way.

Insights: Let me start today’s Thoughts by Scott with an apology.  This week has been Vacation Bible School week as you know.  The last two days, Thursday and Friday were incredibly busy and I was unable to get to my final blog thought.  So, I wish to say I am sorry to my faithful readers.  Here is the final point of the sermon from Sunday.  So far we have learned four parts of the ACTION steps.  They have been:

• Acknowledge the emotion.
• Consider why you have it.
• Thank God that He will help you master it.
• Identify the biblical response to it.
• Obey the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Today we learn the last part of the ACTION steps and it is Nurture the appropriate fruit of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the One who is leading us on this journey of life everlasting.  We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and He is the One who manifests the various fruits.  Notice even the title of the fruit of the Spirit.  Fruit is singular even though nine fruits are listed.  The significance of this point is that the fruit is the Holy Spirit and He manifests Himself in your life in these various facets.  In regards to the verse it is important to understand who is doing the leading.  We are not following just some mortal who is trying to figure this thing called life out.  We are following the One who created all of this and knows where the finish line is truly located. Another aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is that for whatever emotion you are dealing with there is an equivalent fruit of the Spirit.  Our example for the week has been about fear.  When we are in fear we need a peace in our lives.  The Holy Spirit gives us that kind of peace.  The list of the fruit of the Spirit is Galatians 5:22-23.  Let me encourage you to follow these ACTION steps regarding whatever you are facing.

Questions:

1. What is the proper fruit of the Spirit you are needing to nurture in order to master your emotions?

2. What have some of the challenges been to you as you nurture the appropriate fruit of the Spirit?

Prayer: Father, thank You that You give me Your Spirit.  The fruits of the Spirit are the outflow of what the Holy Spirit is doing in me and I am grateful for that work.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

See Me, O God

Photo by Barron Fujimoto

Scripture: Psalm 139:24a

And see if there be any hurtful way in me,

Insights: So far we have learned four parts of the ACTION steps.  They have been:

• Acknowledge the emotion.
• Consider why you have it.
• Thank God that He will help you master it.
• Identify the biblical response to it.

Today we learn the fifth part of the ACTION steps and it is Obey the Holy Spirit’s leading.  Notice in today’s verse we have the Lord observing our lives.  If we are truly obeying Him, will we have have hurtful ways?  The answer is a resounding no.  I feel I need to clarify this concept of hurtful ways, however, in the midst of our current societal norms.  It is not hurtful to tell a child no to something that is not in their best interest.  It is not hurtful to make a child mind and learn respect when the child does not want to do something.  In fact, it IS hurtful to enable a person to continue to make choices in their lives that will lead them down paths of bondage and pain.  I say this because there are times the Holy Spirit will have us to make a right stand regarding a subject and it will be unpopular by the masses.  The populace do not change the correctness of the decision and to them it may seem or even appear hurtful, but if it is the right choice under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then it is not hurtful.  God is seeing our choices and He desires to know if we will follow Him no matter what.  Beloved, as our world becomes ever increasingly evil, I pray you will stay true to the Father.  I pray you daily spend time with Him and let Him guide you by His Spirit.  I pray you find His peace to be sufficient in the midst of turmoil and that you realize that your actions are truly not harmful, but helpful to those who will heed your advice.  May God be honored and glorified as you obey the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Questions:

1. Are you following the Holy Spirit’s leading?

2. What challenges or obstacles are you experiencing as you obey the Holy Spirit?

Prayer: Father, lead me by Your Spirit and grant me the courage and faith to follow well.  I know the enemy does not want my allegiance to You to be more than lip service.  As a result, he attacks me when I obey.  Help me to trust You in this journey of faith.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Try Me, O God

Photo by Wake Forest University School of Law

Scripture: Psalm 139:23b

Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

Insights: Yesterday we learned we need to Acknowledge our emotion regarding our present situation.  After we have Acknowledged it we were to Consider why we were having the emotions.  In other words, what is going on underneath the surface.  We move from God searching us and revealing our heart to us to God now testing us to determine if we are going to be dependent on Him or wrapped up in our anxiety.  So, the next to parts of the ACTION step are to Thank God that He will help us master our emotions surrounding our situation.  God is testing us to see if we go to Him first.  When we start with this attitude of gratitude for God’s provision, then we are truly empowered to overcome our situation.  The next part of the ACTION step is to Identify the biblical response to our emotions.  All too often we read the Bible and we learn what it has to say regarding our lives, but then we choose to ignore God’s truth and believe our own limiting beliefs.  This sad reality is why we have God trying us and knowing our anxious thoughts.  Beloved, let me encourage you to start the process of walking through these verses of Psalm 139 and applying these ACTION steps to give you victory in your life.  Especially when you are facing hard times and difficult situations in which your emotions tend to fall on the negative side.  Put your trust in the Lord and let Him be the One enabling you to master and overcome your present situation and any situation you might face in the future.

Questions:

1. Have you thanked the Lord for being able to help you through the emotional process?

2. What did you discover as you looked for the biblical response to your current situation?

Prayer: Father, I know that Your testing or trying of me is to make me learn how to be more dependent on You.  May I grow in Your grace and pass the trials in such a fashion as to bring You honor and glory.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Search Me, O God

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski

Scripture: Psalm 139:23a

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Insights: This week is Vacation Bible School (VBS) week at FBC Bowling Green.  We are Submerged and Finding Truth Below the Surface.  This weeks focal verse is Psalm 139:23-24.  With the kick off of VBS I sensed the Lord telling me to preach on these verses.  The first part of the verse twenty-three informs us the Lord is the One who searches and knows our hearts.  All too often we lie to ourselves regarding what is really going on in our lives.  I provided FBC Bowling Green a tool that we unpacked through all four points of the sermon.  The tool can be found in Avery Willis, Jr.’s The Disciple’s Personality from his Master Life series.  Willis provides us with an ACTION step which parallels these two verse beautifully.  The A of the ACTION step stands for Acknowledge the emotion.  In other words, as you are asking God to search your heart He is going to reveal to you what you are currently feeling.  So, you may be feeling angry, hurt, sad, lonely, afraid, happy, excited, anticipatory or any other kind of emotion.  When we feel these emotions, however, there is typically something going on deeper within us that is causing this emotion.  At this point, we move to the second step in the ACTION plan.  The C stands for Consider why you have it.  The it in this step is regarding the emotion.  For example, let’s imagine the emotion you were experiencing was fear.  What is actually lying underneath the surface that is churning this fear?  Have you done something and now you are afraid of the consequences?  Are you employed somewhere that is experiencing job cuts and you fear you may be next?  This consideration of what is really going on is the heart of this part of verse twenty-three.  The only One who can truly give you this answer is the Lord God Himself.  Turn to Him and ask Him to search your heart and reveal what is really going on inside of you; at your very depths.  Join me the remainder of this week as we continue to submerge below the surface of our lives to find the truth of our hearts.

Questions:

1. What emotion have you acknowledged is affecting your life at the moment?

2. When you considered the underlying cause behind the emotion, what did you discover?

Prayer: Father, You truly do know my heart better than I do.  Help me grow in Your grace and truly know what is going on deep within my very soul.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Submerge Deep in Your Life

Photo by LifeWay

Emotions are a funny thing.  There are times in one’s life in which they are so exhilarated and passionate they feel they could scale Mount Everest and not even break a sweat.  There are other times in which one is so drained and depressed they feel as if they cannot even get out of their bed.  It has always intrigued me as to how some people are able to feel something and yet still press on toward either a positive or a negative end.

This coming Sunday I will be preaching our Vacation Bible School (VBS) theme verses because on Monday we start VBS.  Our theme this year is to Submerge and Find the Truth Below the Surface.  As we investigate this particular verse Sunday I think  we will discover that for most people there is something going on deeper in our lives than the surface emotions with which we are experiencing.

On Sunday, I will provide you with a simple action step to find out what you are experiencing and why.  We will not stop at just the discovery phase of our emotions, however, we will submerge deeper and learn what we can do to not let our emotions dictate our activity.

If you do not have a church home, let me encourage you to come worship with us at FBC Bowling Green.  Our worship service starts at 10:45 a.m. and our Sunday School hour starts at 9:30 a.m.  Let me also encourage you to invite a friend with you this Sunday and let them learn this simple action step to live life to the full and not to be trapped by one’s emotional situation at the present moment.

May you have a blessed weekend and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.  God bless!

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Stand True No Matter What

Photo by David

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:15-16

David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!”  So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord;

Insights: The final lesson we learn this week from our passage deals with standing true no matter what.  These three warriors of David were true to him even at the potential cost of their very lives.  They knew David desired water from the well in Bethlehem and because of their love for him they risked their very lives to get him a drink.  They stayed true to David no matter what the cost.  Our founding fathers of our nation did the same regarding our liberty.  Most of the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence lost their fortunes.  Many died or lost loved ones in the American Revolution.  These men who had lived lives of comfort and wealth knew the greater good of freedom lay before them.  They knew this truth to be more important than anything else.  As a result, they signed and fought no matter the consequences because they knew they needed to stand true to the cause of freedom.  Beloved, we are approaching a day in which I personally believe Christ-followers will experience persecution and prison in the United States.  I do not long for that day, but I do think it is a very real possibility.  My question for you is will you be one who will stand true to the Lord no matter what may come?  It is my prayer you will.  May we have the same resolve as David’s mighty men.  May we have the same resolve our founding fathers of this great nation had.  May we be like Jesus because He fills us with His power and grace to stand true.

Questions:

1. Is there any reason you can think of which would give you cause enough to compromise your faith?

2. Why do you think so many “Christians” in the United States compromise their faith?

Prayer: Father, Your standard is the most important.  Help me to stand with You no matter what happens around me.  I see a day in which Christ-followers may be imprisoned for their faith in the United States.  If that day comes, let me be strong enough in You to face the punishment of the state.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Stand Alone at Times

Photo by Dan Eicher

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:10-12

He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.  Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.  But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.

Insights: Notice with me a second truth from these verses today.  As the Philistines began to advance onto the Israelites, the Israelite people fled from them.  All of them ran for their lives except for Shammah.  He knew this ground of lentils was the food for his people.  Many would starve to death if he did not fight for this crop.  All his compatriots lost courage and ran, but he took a stand in the midst of the plot and defeated the Philistines.  There are times in our lives in which the Lord calls us to stand alone.  Everyone else may desert us, but we need to remember from yesterday that our strength is not in us, but the Lord.  If we will rest in His strength, then we will be able to stand alone when the pressure comes.  Many are unaware that when our country was founded there were about a third of the people loyal to England.  There was another third who remained indifferent about the war.  This means only a third of the people were willing to stand against England.  Now I understand that a third is more than one, but the point is these individuals were willing to stand for the right principle even if everyone else turned their backs on the truth.  Beloved, I pray, in the midst of our current political catastrophes, that we will be willing to stand alone for the Lord and His right even if it means persecution and death.  Let your life bring glory to the Lord.

Questions:

1. Have you ever found yourself standing alone regarding an issue?

2. Were you able to maintain your conviction in the midst of opposition?

Prayer: Father, I do not like to stand alone in the midst of difficult circumstances.  Lord, however, I do wish to honor You and to obey You.  Help me to stand alone for You if that is what You call me to do.  Let me find my courage in You.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Stand Strong in God

Photo by Katie Budris

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:10-12

He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.  Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.  But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.

Insights: Before I share my Thoughts by Scott with you this week I desire to give credit to C. Philip Green.  He is the pastor who preached the sermon and whose points I have used this week.  I concur with pastor Green regarding what is required for our nation to change.  The passage of Scripture we are investigating deals with king David’s mighty men and their exploits as the foundling nation of Israel was brought together under the divinely chosen monarch who would bring stability and balance to the people.  The first thing we learn from these men is that to change a nation we need people who will stand strong in the Lord.  Notice in verse ten and twelve that Samuel indicates the reason these men were successful was because the Lord brought about the victory.  In other words, these men were standing strong in the Lord and trusting Him to be their provision of strength and power.  The Lord God is the One who enables us to face major opposition and say, “I will walk with the Lord and no other.”  When we are strengthened to live life this way, we are better for our country.  When our strength and dependence is on the Lord, we have an opportunity to change the course of our nation.  My prayer is that men and women all across this nation that claim to live under the Lordship of Christ Jesus will find their strength in Him and stand for Him.

Questions:

1. Have you found the Lord to truly be a source of strength in your life?

2. Are you able to name and describe a time in which the Lord provided for you a supernatural strength to stand for Him?

Prayer: Father, I desire for the United States of America to change.  I desire for us to be a country in which You truly are our foundation.  As a result, please help me to have the strength I need to stand strong in You.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Happy 4th of July!

Photo by Bill Dickinson

Today marks the day in our history in which we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  This year is the second year I have had my children under my care for 4th of July, but it is the first year in which they were residing here in the United States of America.  I feel a heavier weight this year to make certain my daughters understand the importance of our national freedom which was so costly paid for by our founding fathers.

I recently listened to a podcast that is produced in Canada.  The host of the show was talking about the way people think as a result of the birth of their country.  In other words, America was birthed out of conflict and personal rights that we felt had been violated.  Canada, on the other had, did not get birthed out of conflict and as a result they are a much more relaxed people who mostly go with the flow.

I sense there is truth in this podcasts hosts perspective regarding worldview.  As one born in the United States there is a fierce determination to be on the side of right and justice.  It is an aspect that is innately born in most citizens of this great nation.  I do not think every nation ought to be governed like us.  Lord knows our current political system is broken and damaged, yet it is the one to which I strongly support and adhere to.

Yesterday at church I challenged families to speak with their children and grandchildren about the importance of this day.  I am personally showing my daughters two cartoon style histories of our nation.  It is not an in depth history.  In fact, it only is about ten minutes long.  It does, however, give a good overview of the reasons and causes for our Independence.  You can view this two videos at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfnrdWYmZus  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McyeEnkDLKA 

Let me encourage you at some point today to reflect on our nation.  Let us not just enjoy food, fun, family and fireworks.  Rather, let us remember the importance of this great day and be grateful for God’s grace He has allowed to fall on us in spite of ourselves.

The remainder of this week will be me expounding on my sermon Sunday as it was centrally located around our nation and the lessons we could learn from Israel in it’s fledgling state under king David.  I hope you come back the remainder of this week and learn about what kind of men and women God uses to change a course of a nation.  It is my hope you will be such a person.

To God be the glory on this day and may He bless the United States of America.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

Help Others to Understand God's Grace

Photo by David Hollcraft

Scripture: Hosea 3:5

Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

Insights: Today’s verse is my favorite of this passage.  Even though Israel had made poor choices and would soon face the consequences of those choices, God informed them the punishment would not last forever.  In fact, He went on to tell them they would return and seek Him with trembling in the last days.  In other words, as the Lord becomes their King of kings of through the line of David, they will receive His mercy and grace.  Grace, unmerited favor, is what the Lord offers to all of humanity.  Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb have displayed the full power of God in redeeming humanity.  If one will receive this free gift, then they will forevermore experience God’s grace and mercy.  It is my prayer that if you are reading these words and have not experienced God’s amazing grace, that you do so today.  All you have to do is cry out to Him and let Him know you acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  If you are truly sincere in your cry of desperateness, He promises to enter into your life.  From that point until you are eternally reconciled with Him, you will be taken through the process of sanctification.  Sanctification is the process in which all of your old sinful habits are transformed by God’s righteousness.  He will convict you of sin and instruct and lead you to lay that sin down.  This laying down of sin and walking in Him and His righteousness is called sanctification.  Salvation does not give us a free get out of jail card.  We cannot just sin as we always have done and then say, “But I have received salvation in Jesus.”  Rather, because of His grace and salvation we ought to desire to please Him and walk in purity of life.  I hope and pray others see the distinction of a life in Christ Jesus in You.  Live under His grace and experience His mercies new every morning.

Questions:

1. Have you experienced God’s grace?

2. Are you amazed at His goodness?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your salvation You extend to me.  Let me remain in Your love and grow in Your grace.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.