Somebody Loves You – February 11, 2021

THURSDAY February 11, 2021

Accounted Righteous

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Galatians 3:5-6

Once again, Paul pinpoints for the Galatians the surety of salvation through faith. Salvation was not accomplished by the law. To give them more than just a verbal account, Paul took the Galatians to the Old Testament, to the life of Abraham, so they could easily understand the walk of faith.

In Genesis 15:4-5, Abraham was given promises by God. Abraham was old and childless, but the Lord said:

…the word of the LORD came to him [Abraham], saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

What was Abraham’s reaction to the promises of God? It is written:… he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Abraham lived before the Law was given, but he believed in God’s promises through the hearing of faith…. Abraham became righteous because of his faith and obedience.

As we progress in our Christian walk, we understand our righteousness can only come by faith in Jesus Christ––period. God has given us His Spirit. It is God who performs miracles among His people! Our own righteousness is of no value. Isaiah the prophet said it so perfectly:

But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away (Isaiah 64:6).

There is nothing anyone can do in their human flesh to be made righteousness before God.

We shall never be clothed with the righteousness of Christ except we first know assuredly that we have no righteousness of our own.
~John Calvin~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!

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Daily Food – February 11

The best news

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, so that he may be with you forever: that is, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see or know him; but you know it, because it remains with you, and it will be in you. – John 14: 16-17

Good news is always expected and received with great joy. News of a better job, an increase in salary, and even more of the birth of a child. Among these wonderful news we need to include the news of the birth of that little boy born in humility, the true creator who became a creature, communicating his love in a concrete and visible way.

God did not send us a message or send an e-mail, but he himself made himself present in Jesus Christ, showing that he wants us with him. He came to make peace with us, offering forgiveness for the guilt of sins that led us away from him so that all those who confess their sins and believe in Christ as their only Savior may have forgiveness and eternal life. Is there better news than this?

THE PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the encouraging news we received, the news that Jesus came to save us, fulfilling what you promised. Amen.

© Copyright 2013 Christ for All Nations

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MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST

Are You Listening to God? They said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”  Exodus 20:19 We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him. “You speak with us,…but let not God speak with us….” We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.” Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, “Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?” This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition Bible in One Year: Leviticus 13; Matthew 26:26-50

Family Talk Night Light for Parents

Duration: 365 days

A SUCCESSFUL MOM

“Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.” Ezekiel 19:10

My mother was a very strong woman when she was young. It was only through her wisdom and devotion that I survived the emotional pressures of my early childhood.

To keep her family fed, Mom found a job at a fish cannery. She was required to work unpredictable hours; many times she would be called at three or four in the morning. I marveled at her ability to hold a job and do the shopping, cooking, housekeeping, and laundry under such stressful circumstances.

Despite the difficulties, Mom was tremendously successful in the two areas of parenting that matter most. First, she convinced my brother and me that she loved us. Second, even though she was not a practicing Christian, she understood that attending the local evangelical church was important for her children. Mom would not go with us (Sunday was her “catch-up” day), but she insisted that my brother and I get involved. She pulled back the blankets every Sunday morning and ordered us to get ready for church. We often complained and moaned, but to no avail. Now I am so thankful for her insistence. It was in that little neighborhood church that I was introduced to Jesus Christ and eventually invited Him into my heart. A few years later, Mom came to know Him, too.

You may be facing your own difficult circumstances as a mother right now. Perhaps your kids’ childhoods aren’t turning out the way you’d planned. But don’t worry about achieving perfection as you raise your children. Cast your “anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) and your kids. Show your children your love and teach them to love the Lord. A mother who accomplishes that is doing just fine.

-Shirley M. Dobson

• From Night Light For Parents, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
  Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.