Category Archives: Scripture Memory

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Strength and Protection: God’s Promise to You

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord Today

SYNOPSIS: What an encouragement for you today: “The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” That means God’s trustworthiness is flawless—he will always do what he says he will do, he will always strengthen you to meet every challenge that you will face, and he will even protect you from the overwhelming evil that Satan wants to unleash in your life. If you’re in a jam and no one is around to encourage you today, strengthen yourself in the Lord and by faith, express gratitude for God’s unfailing promise to strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

Project 52—Memorize:
2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

What an encouragement that promise ought to be for you today: God is faithful. That means his trustworthiness is flawless. It also means that he always does what he says he will do, including giving you the strength to meet every challenge that you will ever face in life. And it even means that he will protect you from the overwhelming evil that Satan plans to unleash against you and your loved ones.

Yes, God is faithful, God will strengthen you, God will protect you from the power of the devil.

Do you believe that? It may be that your confidence in God’s faithfulness, his promise of strength, and his perfect track record of protecting you from the Enemy’s harm is waning if you are facing a battle, or in the thick of one as we speak. If that is the case, then let me encourage you to do as David did when it seemed he was on the verge of devastating defeat: He strengthened himself in the Lord. (1 Sam 30:6)

So how can you strengthen yourself in the God who promises to strengthen you for the battle? One of the most powerful ways is to simply meditate on God’s promises. How do you meditate? Practice reverse worrying. When you worry about something, you think about it all the time. So simply choose to constantly think about God’s promises until your confidence in him returns—and it will if you do this.

Allow me to give you fifteen Biblical promises of strength and protection that you can turn into reverse worrying:

  1. Genesis 15:1 — Don’t be afraid, for I am your shield and your very great reward.
  2. Deuteronomy 31:6 — Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
  3. Psalm 3:3-5 — But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
  4. Psalm 17:8-9 — Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
  5. Psalm 23:1-7 — The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
  6. Psalm 32:7 — You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
  7. Psalm 34:7-9 — The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
  8. Psalm 121:7-8 — The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
  9. Proverbs 18:10 — The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
  10. Isaiah 41:10-13 — So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.”
  11. Isaiah 43:2 — When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
  12. Isaiah 54:17 — No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
  13. Nahum 1:7 — The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
  14. Ephesians 6:10-15 — Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
  15. 2 Timothy 4:18 — The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

If you are in a jam and no one is around to encourage you today, strengthen yourself in the Lord and by faith, express gratitude for God’s promise to strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

When a man has no strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful. ~D.L. Moody

Reflect and Apply: If you are facing an overwhelming challenge, memorize and meditate on these verses, lean into God, and strengthen yourself in him.

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The Circle of Saving Faith

Faith is Believing and Obeying

SYNOPSIS: Here is the full circle of saving faith: Belief in Jesus that is rooted in love for God and God’s people, which is demonstrated in joyful obedience to God’s commands that expresses itself in a faith that overcomes the world. Where you find that, faith has come full circle and you find someone who is truly a Christian: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands…Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:1-2,5). Belief…love…obedience…victorious saving faith…one who believes that Jesus is the Messiah of God – that is what makes a Christian a Christian.

Project 52—Memorize:
1 John 5:1

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.”

What makes a Christian a Christian? Is it the fact that a person says so?  Should we just take their word for it and leave it at that? A lot of people in our society claim Christianity, but both their language and lifestyle represent a gulf between what they claim and living in full surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Likewise, does going to church make someone a follower of Jesus? Again many people attend worship services on a regular basis, but the trail of evidence as to the Lordship of Jesus in their lives stops at the doors of their church.

How do we know when a person is expressing authentic faith? The Apostle John gives a pretty comprehensive answer to that question in his first letter.  He says true Christianity begins with belief: “Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten.” (1 John 5:1, Message)

Believing is the starting point. That echoes what John taught in his Gospel: “To all who received Jesus, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)  But saving belief is not mere intellectual acknowledgement alone. James, the brother of Jesus, would say of that, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19)

No, belief that saves is demonstrated in action. John goes on to say, “and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” (I John 5:2) Saving faith might begin with belief, but it is carried along by love—love for God and love for God’s other children, which Jesus referred to as the first and second great commandments. (Matthew 22:36-40)

Just as it is true of saving belief, saving love has to be more than just an idea. Love is not love until it becomes a verb, and the verb that authenticates Biblical love is obedience:

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”  (I John 5:2-3)

Jesus once confronted those who wished to make love only an idea by drawing this line in the sand: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? …If you love me, you will obey my commands.” (Luke 6:46, John 14:15)

Saving faith begins with belief that it is carried along by love that is demonstrated in obedience. But the kind of saving obedience that Jesus and John were talking about was not simply rote observance of religious ritual. No, they were asking for a deep-seated conviction that led to a relentless choosing of the way of faith over the enticement of this present world. John went on to say, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)

And there you have it, the circle of saving faith: Belief in Jesus that is rooted in love for God and God’s people, which is demonstrated in joyful obedience to God’s commands that expresses itself in a faith that overcomes the world. Where you find that, faith has come full circle and you find someone who is truly a Christian:

“Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)

Belief…love…obedience…victorious saving faith…one who believes that Jesus is the Messiah of God. That is what makes a Christian a Christian—or so John would say.

“Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a living presence.” ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Reflect and Apply:  Is your Christianity a theory…or is it belief in Jesus that is being fleshed out in loving, obedient, overcoming faith? Your honest response to that question is the most important answer you’ll ever give.  

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What I Want – What I Need

Learn to Differentiate Between True Needs and Fleshly Wants

SYNOPSIS: Contentment ought to be a no-brainer for the believer! Why? Because you understand that an infinitely wise, supernaturally resourceful, incredibly generous, intimately involved, all-knowing, all-powerful God will never leave you or forsake you and will see to it that you have what you need. Contentment is a character trait that reveals great confidence in God. It is a spiritual discipline that demonstrates great obedience to God. It is an act of worship that greatly glorifies God. And it is a step of faith that releases the provision and results in the peace of God. So practice contentment!

Project 52—Memorize:
Philippians 4:19

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

I love this verse and quote it in my prayers for others, and myself, all the time. What a guarantee: God will meet all my needs! Not some of them, but all of them out of the unlimited treasury of heaven that has been made possible for me by the glorious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Such a deal!

Ah, but wait a minute. Look at the preceding verses. As much as we love to quote this fantastic verse guaranteeing God’s provision, notice how Paul qualifies it with some other thoughts. In verses 11-12, Paul says,

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

That doesn’t sound like a guy who is getting everything he wants—an unlimited supply of stuff to make his life comfortable, successful and pain-free. No, this is a guy who has learned one of the most important disciplines for happiness, one of the essential attitudes for Christian living: Contentment. When you learn the secret of contentment, you will understand how to differentiate between true needs and fleshly wants.

The word translated “content” appears five times in the New Testament—and they all suggest a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed. In extra-biblical Greek, one ancient writer used it to describe a country that supplied itself and had no need for imports. Biblically, contentment means to be satisfied with what God has supplied and confident that he will supply what is needed in the future.  That is why Paul can say in I Timothy 6:6, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

The Bible not only identifies contentment as a virtue to attain but also as a command to obey.  We’re commanded to be content in every area of life:

  • Hebrews 13:5 warns us to resist obsession with material things, “Be content with whatever you have, for God has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’”
  • You are to be content with your food and clothing—I Timothy 6:8 says, “And having food and clothing, let us be content.”
  • You are to be content with your job and wages—John the Baptist said in Luke 3:14, “be content with your pay.”
  • You’re to be content with your marriage—Proverbs 5:18 says, “be satisfied with the wife you married when you were young.”

Contentment ought to be a no-brainer for the believer! Why? Because you understand that an infinitely wise, supernaturally resourceful, incredibly generous, intimately involved, all-knowing, all-powerful God will never leave you or forsake you and will see to it that you have what you need.

Contentment is a character trait that reveals great confidence in God. It is a spiritual discipline that demonstrates great obedience to God. It is an act of worship that greatly glorifies God. And it is a step of faith that releases the provision and results in the peace of God.

So practice contentment!

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.” ~Jeremiah Burroughs 

Reflect and Apply: Arthur Pink states, “Instead of complaining at his lot, a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are. Instead of greedily desiring something more than the supply of his present need, he rejoices that God still cares for him. Such a one is ‘content’ with such as he has.” (Hebrews 13:5) Offer a session of praise and thanksgiving this morning—and every morning—and see if contentment doesn’t grow in your life.

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Made For Another World

"I Will Come Back For You!" ~Jesus

SYNOPSIS: Jesus’s revelation of his Second Coming and the planned retrieval of his followers to a newly constructed eternal dwelling in John 14:3 – “When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me” – is the most comforting and motivating promise that he ever made. Allow his promise to both soothe and strengthen you today because it is yet another reminder that you were “made for another world.” This world is not your home; a better one is coming – and soon! And until that great day comes, your longing for the next world is to energize you for tireless kingdom work in this present world.

Project 52—Memorize:
John 14:2-3

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Jesus knew that what he was about to say would upset his disciples; perhaps even cause them to panic. They had left everything to follow him, and now that public opinion had turned against his messianic ministry, their very lives were in danger along with his. Yet this small band of men had still thrown in with Jesus. And now he was telling them that he was about to leave them for another world.

But Jesus made two incredible promises to his disciples in John 14 as he revealed his exit plan that would shore up their courage and give them the confidence to carry on with his plans to transform the world through their witness. First, he revealed that the Holy Spirit would take his place and come alongside them, and unlike him, actually take up residence within them. (John 14:16-17) It would be the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit who would comfort, guide, and empower the disciples to accomplish even greater results than Jesus himself had achieved.

The second promise was that just as surely as he was going away, and just as surely as he had come a first time, he would come back a second time and get them. The next time, he would not come to live with them, he would come to take them to a place that he was now leaving to prepare especially for them.  He would be constructing a new home in a new place in another world just for them—that was his promise. And he asked them, as tough as the news of his departure was on them, to trust him on this and to not be troubled by his absence. (John 14:1).

It was this revelation of his Second Coming and the planned retrieval of his followers to a newly constructed eternal dwelling that was and still is to be the most comforting and motivating promise that Jesus made. It is to comfort because, as C.S. Lewis said, it is a powerful and ongoing reminder that we “made for another world”. This world is not your home; a better one is coming!

But Jesus’ promise was more than just wishful hoping for an escape hatch from this world to the next, it was also to be a powerful motivator that much was needed to be done before his return. Just as he would be working on our new dwellings while he is away, we are to be working to spread his fame in this world before he returns. It was precisely our longing for the next world that is to energize us for tireless kingdom work in this present world.

Jesus’ promise to return and retrieve us is still in effect. Just as it was to comfort his disciples then, it is to comfort us today. Just as it was to energize them for kingdom work back then, the fact that he could return at any moment, perhaps even the next moment, is to motivate us to tirelessly represent his cause today.

If you belong to Christ, you were made for another world. Don’t ever forget that. It will keep your heart strong and your hands active—which is exactly how I want him to find me when he comes to get me.

“If we really believe that home is elsewhere and that this life is a ‘wandering to find home,’ why should we not look forward to the arrival?” ~C.S. Lewis

Reflect and Apply: Spend some time today thinking about your eternal home. That is not a waste of time, by the way, it is what you were meant to do. In history, “you will find out that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” (C.S. Lewis)

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What Even God Can’t Do

Clue: It Has To Do With You

SYNOPSIS: No human being wants to be forgettable. No kid ever grows up in hopes of living an anonymous life, and after having offered a lukewarm existence to this world, says, “bury me in an unmarked grave.” Of course not! Everyone wants to be remembered; God has wired that into our DNA.  The good news is, God wants to convince you that to him, you are unforgettable. And he sent his Son to die on a cross just to make sure you never forget that.

Project 52—Memorize:
Isaiah 49:15-16

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand; your walls are ever before me.”

There is something that even God can’t do: Forget you.

And that’s a good thing since no human being wants to be forgettable. No kid ever grows up in hopes of living an anonymous life, and after having offered a lukewarm existence to this world, says, “bury me in an unmarked grave.” Of course not! Everyone wants to be remembered; God has wired that into our DNA.

Perhaps the reason he made us that way was to cause us to crave his attention. In human relationships, being an attention-getter is usually, at worst, a bad thing, and at best, a very annoying trait, but with God, craving attention is actually okay, since he made us for that.

It is stunning how much the Bible speaks of God remembering his people, especially at times when they think he may have forgotten them. If you want to really be encouraged that God won’t forget you, consider the following:

“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” (Genesis 8:1)

“So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” (Genesis 19:29)

“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.” (Genesis 30:22)

“Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.” (Exodus 6:5)

“Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.”  (I Samuel 1:19)

“Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.”  (Psalm 112:6)

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5)

Get the picture? Obviously, God wants to convince you that to him, you are unforgettable. And he sent his Son to die on a cross just to make sure you never forget that.

Yes, you are someone God can’t forget. I hope you will always remember that!

 “God does not forget us and we should not forget Him!” ~Mark Engler

Reflect and Apply: Take a moment to consider God’s promise through Isaiah. Now every morning this week, offer a prayer of thanksgiving back to God for his promise to keep you as unforgettable in his eyes.

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For God So Loved…You!

The Bible In One Verse

SYNOPSIS: John 3:16—it’s the whole Bible in just one verse. The verse is so simple that any child can memorize it, yet it is so infinitely profound and irresistibly powerful that it can totally, radically transform your life. That’s right, this verse is not just an amazing statement about God’s universal love for all mankind, it is about God’s personal love for you! God so loved the world, but he didn’t just look at it as one big mass of nameless faces. When he looked at the world and loved it, he was looking at you. Max Lucado put it like this, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.” Yep—God has a crazy love for you!

Project 52—Memorize:
John 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16—it’s the whole Bible in just one verse. The verse is so simple that any child can memorize it, yet it is so infinitely profound and irresistibly powerful that it can totally, radically transform your life. That’s right, this verse is not just an amazing statement about God’s universal love for all mankind, it is about God’s personal love for you!

God so loved the world, but he didn’t just look at it as one big mass of nameless faces. When he looked at the world and loved it, he was looking at you. Max Lucado, who wrote an entire book just on John 3:16, said, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.”

God has a crazy love for you! He really does. St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, one of the most influential figures in church history, said: “God loves each and every one of us as if there were only one of us.” Think about that: If you were the only person on this planet, God would have loved you so much that he still would have given Jesus to die for your sins. There would still be John 3:16 if you were the sole human ever created.

One of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning, told the story of an Irish priest on a walking tour of his rural parish, and he happened upon an old peasant man kneeling by the roadside, praying. The priest was impressed: “You must be very close to God.”

The peasant looked up from his prayers, thought for a moment, and smiled, “Yes, he’s very fond of me.” This simple man had a profound sense that he was loved by God, and that was all that mattered!  From that story, Manning developed a personal declaration: “I am the one Jesus loves.”

That is in no way arrogant; it is actually quite Biblical. The Apostle John identified himself throughout his Gospel as  “the one Jesus loved.”  That came to be John’s primary identity in life. If you were to ask John, “Tell me about yourself,” he wouldn’t have said, ‘Well, I’m a disciple, an apostle, and the author of this incredible Gospel.” Rather, John would have simply said, “I’m the one Jesus loves.”

Now if John could think of himself that way, so can you. John 3:6 gives you permission. So I hope you’ll practice remembering that today: “You are the one Jesus loves!”

“We have a share in the special love of Jesus. We see evidences of that love…in the precious blood that He so freely shed for us…Behold how He loves us!” ~Charles Spurgeon

Reflect and Apply: Do you ever wonder if God really does love you? I do. The cross is a continual reminder for you and me that when he stretched out his arms on that wooden crossbeam, it was as if he were saying, “I love you this much!” Then he bowed His head, and died. And there is nothing today that can separate you from that love. Let the power of God’s love absolutely, profoundly change your life today!

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The Coattail Effect

It's Nothing You Did - It's Everything God Did

SYNOPSIS: Today, REST in what God has done as a worshipful response for your salvation: Reflect on God’s grace. “It is by grace you are saved…” (v. 8) Express gratitude to God for the gift of salvation. “It is the gift of God.” (v. 8) Stop working for what you already have—God’s approval! “You are God’s workmanship…” Trade your ‘to do’ list for God’s. “Do good works which God prepared in advance for you to do.” (v. 10) You’ve crossed over the bridge of faith riding on Someone else’s efforts, so enjoy the ride! As John Piper said, “Delighting in God is the work of our lives.  God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

Project 52—Memorize:
Ephesians 2:8-10

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 are three of the most revolutionary verses in the entire Bible, dramatically revealing how our salvation really came about. Basically, Paul is telling us that we are saved totally by the love, grace, mercy, will and power of God. We had very little to do with it—except to simply, humbly and gratefully receive this marvelous gift. Even then, God helped us with that. This is the coat-tail effect: God did all the work, now we get a free ride on his efforts.

So what does this mean for me? Plenty! Among the countless numbers of ramifications, one of the most enjoyable is that I can sit back and simply rest in this wonderful gift of salvation provided in Christ Jesus.

Let me spell out 4 things from these verses using the word REST that you can try as a response of worship for your salvation:

Reflect: First of all, this week, reflect on God’s grace. Verse 8 says “it is by grace you are saved…” Verses 4-5 say, “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead…” You did nothing to save yourself and make you acceptable to God. You were dead! Do you know what a dead person can do to be un-dead. Nothing—except lay there and be dead! It was all up to God. So just spend some time thinking about that, and it will lead to the response.

Express: Express your gratitude to God for the gift of salvation. Express a prayer of thanksgiving every day specifically for the gift of eternal life he has given you. Do you realize how marvelous this gift is? Verse 8 goes on to say that every aspect of your salvation “is the gift of God.” Even the faith to believe was God’s gift, according to the grammar of that verse. God has even provided you the ability to believe—how awesome is that?

Stop: Stop working for what you already have—approval! Verse 10 says “you are God’s workmanship…” God does not accept or approve of you based on your efforts—he does so based on Christ’s work. You were “created in Christ Jesus.” You are his masterpiece! So whenever you feel the need to perform for your worth—quit! You’re already worthy. Just take delight in God and what he’s done for you through Jesus. Delighting in God is a very spiritual matter—and it’s appropriate! So stop working for approval and enjoy God this week!

Trade: Trade your ‘to do’ list for God’s. Verse 10 says you were created, “to do good works which God prepared in advance for you to do.” Once you’re freed from the need to work for approval and acceptance, you can do the works that arise out of grace—those are the “good works prepared in advance for you to do.” What are those good works? I don’t know, but to paraphrase Augustine, “just love God and do as you please” and I have a feeling you’ll be just fine!

A flea was riding on an elephant’s ear when they came to an old wooden bridge.  And as they crossed the bridge wobbled badly and almost collapsed.  When they got the other side the flea said to the elephant, “Boy, we shook that bridge, didn’t we!”

Friend, you’ve crossed over the bridge of faith riding on someone else’s efforts.  So quit trying to add to it—it’s already done. Quit trying to get there—you’re already there. Just rest in who you are in Christ based on what he’s done for you on the cross.

And enjoy the ride!

“Delighting in God is the work of our lives.  God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”  ~John Piper

Reflect and Apply: Offer this prayer of gratitude: “Father, I am your workmanship. I am your masterpiece.  How marvelous the thought! Enable me to live up to that and honor your design in everything I think, say and do.”