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DAILY DEVOTIONAL – Monday, July 13, 2020
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May you find comfort, encouragement, guidance, hope, inspiration, love, and peace – https://helpfulinspirationalblog.wordpress.com/. May you also find answers to your question(s) through the Scriptures that address every situation you face, and help with your problems. Deb ♥
Dear Lord, open our hearts and our minds to the power of Your Word, which as we read, we may know, understand, and obey Your Word for us today. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. (Author unknown)
Today’s scripture reading:
[Out of gratitude, help serve others with love, kindness, gentleness]
We become Christians through God’s unmerited favor, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. While no action or work we do can heolp us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up the church. (NLT)
Ephesians 2:1-10 – Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Quoted verse: We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
“Story” – Terri Foster (South Carolina, USA) titled her story “UNCONVENTIONAL PLACES;” here is Terri’s story:
“Strip clubs aren’t places you would typically expect a church group to go in search of friends. But for years, my friend Tonya and other women from her church went there regularly to cultivate relationships. With permission from club owners, the church women gave female employees free toiletries. Many of the recipients were single mothers, struggling to make ends meet, and they gladly received the gifts. After a while, the church group got opportunities to meet with the women during non-work hours. They listened, offered support, met practical needs, and shared spiritual truth about Jesus from the Bible.
“It took courage and perseverance to do something so unconventional. Was it without risk? Definitely not. Was it Christlike? Absolutely.
“Jesus invited all kinds of people to come into the kingdom of God. It didn’t matter if onlookers misunderstood or gossiped. Everyone needs God’s grace. If we’re followers of Jesus, we’ll look for ways to extend it – even in unconventional places.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – Where might I interact with someone who needs to know the good news of God’s love?
Prayer: God of all, open our eyes and hearts to the hurting world around us. Help us to take every opportunity to share our faith with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Focus: SINGLE MOTHERS
To read other stories in The Upper Room, click on the following link: https://devotional.upperroom.org/
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