DAD'S DAILY BREAD

16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Gal 2: 16

The closer you get to Christ the more you will see the things in your life that you need to change. After a while you get so focused on removing those things that it’s easy to forget some of the truths of God’s Word. It is real easy to forget that you have already been justified by what Christ has done. You forget that God knows every single thing that you have done or will ever do! You start to do these things on your own power and you don’t understand why it is so hard or why you’re not moving as fast as you think you should. In my life when that happens it is because I have taken the controls back and I have started to do what I think is needed or is best. I forget that my choices and my great ideas are what got me into the mess in the first place. If the enemy can get you to forget the promises of God then he has enabled you useless and you will spin around trying to fix yourself instead of surrendering it all to Him and letting God do the work that only He is able to do. Once you start to compromise and rely on your own strength that is when the enemy starts licking his chops and starts executing our destruction. Most of the time our sinful flesh will take us out and the enemy just sits back and enjoys the show… So don’t fall into the trap! Stay connected to the source!

Paul is telling us that NO one will be justified by works! There is no way to earn your place with God. There is nothing you can do to make God accept you or love you more than He already does. Salvation is a gift that comes from God. You have to truly believe and with faith accept all the promises of God. God’s Word says that we only have to believe in Him and will be justified and sanctified and brought into His family. He says He will give us the power to change and He will be there to help every step of the way. He will help us in times of temptation and in time of pain and suffering. He will give us the strength to keep fighting and the hope to keep going when everything else can seem hopeless. It can be easy to believe and trust in God when things are good but what happens when things are not so good? When something bad happens are you going to run to the substance or thing that you have always went to for comfort? When sin is exposed in your life will you continue to make excuses and rationalize why it’s not so bad or will you eradicate the sin from your life like God’s Word tells you to do? God doesn’t change and His grace and love will always be covering me but I still have to make a choice. Who am I going to serve? Christ or myself? Lord Help me to keep my eyes always on You!

APPLICATION:

Stay hopeful!! As I walk with God and sin is exposed in my life and those around me, help me to keep my eyes on Christ. This can be very hard and things can start to seem hopeless and not even possible but remember, that is a lie from hell. There is nothing we cannot do with Christ and that removing sin is a part of our sanctification. God does not want to share us with all the little idols we put in our hearts. He deserves it all! So give it your all when it comes to doing what His Word says regardless of what you’re thinking in your head. Do not let my feelings control my actions! Stay connected to God by spending time in His Word. You cannot have a relationship with Christ without being in His Word! You cannot have a proper view of the world and your sin without being in His Word! You will not feel the power and the love and the comfort of His forgiveness and guidance without being in His Word! Lord help me to remember your promises! To truly believe in You and to turn to you when I need to be comforted. Help me to remember that Your ways are so much better than mine! Be with my family and I as we push closer to You! I need Your power and Your love and Your forgiveness! Help me to be hopeful when everything seems dark and hopeless! May I keep my eyes on You and may You shine Your light into all the dark places in my life! May I stay humble and keep myself at the foot of Your cross! You did all the work so I could be with You! I am truly unworthy!

IN HIS NAME!