DIG for Wednesday the 22nd of July…..are people really reading their bibles…..Romans 3 v 28

There are times as a pastor (and as a Christian) that I feel like pulling my hair out.

Some of the questions that I am asked and some of the “debates” that I end up in makes me think that people are just not reading their Bibles, or not understanding what they read.

Take Romans 3 v 28 for example.

Paul has just given a great explanation about righteousness, faith and grace.

He then concludes, makes a decision at the end of his arguments, about how a man is justified (Romans 3 v 28).

Justified means to be made righteous, right before God and accepted in the eyes of the Lord.

This acceptance comes only by faith Paul says, and not through the deeds of the law.

It does not come by holding sacrifices, it does not come by keeping holy days and it does not come by keeping the ten commandments; all of these are deeds of the law.

Yet we are taught in the church to keep this law and that law, keep this commandment and that commandment in order to be acceptable to God.

Do people not read their Bibles?

Can they not see Romans 3 v 28?

If you understand this verse how can you ever teach the ten commandments as a way to acceptance from God?

Jesus is the only way to God, faith in Jesus and His finished work is all that is required for acceptance, righteousness and justification.

There is no other way and there should be no debate, yet the traditions of man keep rearing their ugly heads trying to keep men in bondage to performance religion.

We are not under law but under grace and we are justified through faith in Jesus’ performance and not in ours.

That is the good news of the Gospel, and that is what will lead men to repentance.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I have already been justified through faith and I am now accepted by You and righteous in Your eyes”.

Romans 3 v 28…..Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law

 

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DIG for Tuesday the 21st of July…..created for lots of different purposes but with one in common…..Psalm 117 v 1

Every single one of us was created with a plan and a purpose for our lives.

We all have different paths to walk as we progress with the Lord; some will pastor and teach, some will help the orphans and widows, some will be an encourager and some will have the ministry of helps.

There are many different tasks and jobs in the Kingdom, yet we all have one thing in common.

As I sat down to my computer this morning I opened up a video and it started like this, “I will bless the Lord at all times, I was made to worship, I was made to bless Your name”.

One common factor is that we should live a life of worship and praise towards the Lord.

There are many reasons why we should worship and give Him praise, but the main one is that this is what the Lord would have us do.

He knows the value of worship and praise and would have this positive benefit in our lives.

I have the personal experience that stress and pressure, pain and sickness will flee as I worship and praise His name.

We are to praise Him with our whole heart (Psalm 138 v 1).

We are to make a joyful noise and come before Him with singing (Psalm 100 v 1 and 2 and Psalm 95 v 1).

We know it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises to His name (Psalm 92 v 1).

Take some time to praise Him this morning and see the difference it makes.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for all that you have done for me and thank you that I can come to you in worship and in praise”.

Psalm 117 v 1…..O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people