DIG for Sunday the 9th of July…..did the prodigal son work for the blessing of his father…..Luke 15 v 22 to 24

As most of you should know the account of the prodigal son is one of my favourite pictures in Scripture.

This shows us how our Heavenly Father feels about us and also tells us what He wants to give us.

It also shows us what we need to do in order to receive His best and receive His blessings.

My friends, in order to be blessed and receive God’s best we have to do NOTHING in terms of works or religious performance.

We simply need to return to Him or come to Him in the first place!

While the son was away the father (in this account) was looking out for him, and he ran to his son when he saw him (Luke 15 v 20).

The Father actually ignored the son’s plea for mercy and ordered the party to start.

He gave his son the best he had, a robe, ring, shoes and the fatted calf.

The son did nothing in order to receive these things; he simply came home.

As I wrote yesterday there is nothing we can do through works or religious performance to be saved or made righteous.

The same is true for all of God’s blessings, there is no work good enough to influence God in this matter.

He simply wants our faith and belief; He wants us to come to Him.

Speak this out today…..”Thank You Lord that you love us and wants to shower us with your blessings, and we receive these blessings as a gift of grace through faith”.

Luke 15 v 22 to 24…..But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry

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DIG for Saturday the 8th of July…..did the thief on the cross confess and repent to receive forgiveness…..Luke 23 v 42 and 43

Sometimes what is not written in the Bible can be just as revealing as what is in there.

Take for example the exchange between Jesus and the thief on the cross.

The thief does recognise Jesus as Lord (Luke 23 v 42).

This is enough for Jesus to say he will be in heaven with Him; that to me says he will be saved (Luke 23 v 43)

The thief does not have to ask for forgiveness.

The thief does not have to confess and repent of all his sins.

The thief does not have to do any good works; well he could not do any as he was on a cross!

He did not have to be baptised or attend membership classes or do any other ‘works’ that some seem to think is essential for salvation.

He recognised Jesus as Lord and that was enough.

In the gospel of John we see people asking Jesus what works they have to do for God (John 6 v 28).

Jesus replies that all they have to do is believe on Him (John 6 v 29).

There is no works you can do to be saved, there is no works you can do to be forgiven, and there is no works you can do to make yourself righteous.

It is your belief (and nothing else) in Jesus and His finished work that is important.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I have been saved and made righteous as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus and His finished work”,

Luke 23 v 42 and 43…..And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise