Today’s Encouragement is Romans 4:3-5 “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ [4] Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. [5] And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
Faith is counted as righteousness –
God’s forgiveness of His people, our resulting “right-standing-with-God” (our righteousness) is based on our belief, our faith, in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And this is the free gift of God to all who believe. We do not deserve it, can’t earn it, neither before nor after we believe. It’s a gift. No strings attached. No repayment necessary nor possible! God’s Perfect Gift! ( God so loved that He Gave!…)
In gratitude for this Gift, we now live as freed slaves! We were once slaves to sin, to this world, to our own desires, ideas, and whims. But, as reborn creations in Him, we are now freed from the life of death and our own sinful nature. Now, we believers, can serve God, do our ‘works’, live our lives, in ways that honor Him. Not to gainer earn His approval, love or forgiveness, but in gratitude for this Gift He has already given us… His approval, His Love and His forgiveness!
In this order:
God’s gift is offered
We choose to accept His free and perfect Gift.
We then, out of grateful hearts, serve Him wholeheartedly!
Too many of us stop at the second step. We accept, and thus are truly forgiven and saved. But we choose to stop there. Continuing to serve ourselves, neglecting to grow in relationship with Him, refusing to serve Him wholeheartedly, refusing to submit to His Lordship for our lives. This is a tragedy, and a great loss to the one who believes but doesn’t surrender, doesn’t serve Him, doesn’t enter into the fullness of relationship which God offers us all.
My friends, Is it possible that the miserable, depressed, isolated, fearful, suffering believer, is the one who has chosen to stop… at step two? And chosen to not go forward living within the Lordship of Christ. Which is serving Him First, daily, and with a grateful heart.
Is it possible?
I will serve You
https://youtu.be/tUpfhoo5jzQ
Today’s Encouragement 