Thursday, July 26

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

"But what does it say? 'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:  If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.'  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Romans 10:8-13)

Have you felt overwhelmed this week?  Do you feel overwhelmed right now?  The central message of the Gospel—that God gave His only Son so that we may life through faith—speaks into that moment of being overwhelmed.  The secure hope of the Gospel—that, despite our sin, God's salvation stands on His promise—can carry us through those moments and bring peace. (Romans 5:1)

While feeling overwhelmed with many responsibilities, I also am overwhelmed by God's grace.  His calling for my life—that I would be an ambassador for Christ—guides my steps, but, even with a knowledge of His purpose, the volume can become overwhelming.  Through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, I trust God to carry me through these moments of overcapacity. (Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Have you felt ashamed of your past or present?  In the light of the Gospel, that shame dissipates with the knowledge that God casts away our eternal shame and gives us eternal hope.  When I focus on today's feelings of insecurity, lack of acceptance, or insignificance, I have turned my focus from the eternal to the temporal.  Our identity in Christ rests firmly on His promises, and it guarantees that the Christ-follower will "never be put to shame."

These meditations point out that, while you may have called on God for your salvation at one moment in the past, we must continue to call upon Him and remember His eternal promise to live a victorious life today.  May we seek Him above the noise of voices that want to pin us with shame and confusion.

Lord God, we desperately need You.  We thank You that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  We thank You that our security, acceptance, and significance lie in Your precious promises and that You have given us Your Spirit.  We confess our weakness and our tendency to live in our own power rather than Yours.  Strengthen us today to live victoriously and cognizant of our freedom from shame.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

"Jesus, I Need You":  https://g.co/kgs/6BRv7b