Morning by Morning, June 18 - "Saved through the Grace of the Lord Jesus"
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up in my heart and attitude, in my words and actions, throughout my day. ...
"And God, who knows the human heart, testified to (the Gentiles) by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith He made no distinction between them and us.... We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (Acts 15:8-11).
In the early church, there was "much debate" about whether Gentiles and Jew were saved by their performance and conformance to the law of Moses or by the openness of their heart to the power of Your grace (v. 15:7). There was "no small dissension and debate" over whether apart from compliance to the outward standards of the letter of the law and "the custom of Moses" anyone could be saved (v. 15:1-2). But through listening to one another's hearts and listening together to Your Holy Spirit, they came to agreement in their understanding of Your plan of salvation through the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ (v. 15:22-29).
By the power of Your grace, You give us Your Holy Spirit. By the power of Your grace, our hearts are cleansed by faith. And by the power of Your grace there is no distinction in the means of our salvation between Jews and the Gentiles of every nation and race.
You know our human hearts. You hear our human questions. You see our human failures. You are all too aware of our human desire to be in power and control, to try set our own standards of righteousness and impose our own will as moral authority for ourselves and for everyone else. Yet You love us and reach out to us. You are painstakingly patient with us, "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" and embrace the grace of Your unfailing love (2 Peter 2:9).
Thank You for the peace of Your promise that You look to our hearts to determine our salvation. Then by Your leading of our hearts, You lead us and empower us to know Your truth and follow Your ways (Philippians 2:13). "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; is it the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8). "For the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearances, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
Lord, give me Your heart. Make me more like You each day. Lead me to know Your truth and follow Your ways. Give me patience and grace for myself and for others, reminding me every day that it's Your gift to me -- to be willingly embraced or willingly rejected, but never earned. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My Friend, I pray your heart will be strengthened and empowered to be a faithful disciple of Jesus today, all by the power of the grace of God at work within you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Friends, I'm excited to be going to Claremore, Oklahoma next weekend at the CMore House of Prayer to encourage the intercessors and watchmen on the wall of the region, being hosted by my good friend, Tiffany Miller Lotz called Above the Storm. Come join us if you can!
https://www.facebook.com/events/132789113590250/permalink/132840726918422/
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
