HIS Rest

Many people are relying on all the wrong things to affirm the reality of their relationship to the God of the Bible. Despite the clear and simple truth of Ephesians 2:8,9—"that it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and THAT not of ourselves; it is the GIFT of God, not of works...,” they have yielded to the temptation of adding some measure of self-accomplishment to the salvation equation. Their natural way of thinking about what Scripture reveals about saving faith reduces Christianity to being just another religion——a belief that, sadly, many non-believers [and unconverted church-goers] embrace.

Those who embrace mere religion without a true heart conversion are essentially working to BE saved, rather than BECAUSE they’ve been saved. It reminds me of the phrase “fighting FOR victory, rather than FROM victory.” The former is never certain that their works are sufficient in quantity or quality, so they venture on in mere religion, never able to know or enjoy the peace that biblical (saving) faith affords the converted soul. With the Lord’s help, let us keep our motivations clear and our discernment of biblical instructions sharp. We cannot afford in these days of an “all-roads-lead-to- God” mindset to join the masses who profess to know the Lord, but are slothful or remiss about studying His Word to show themselves approved, “rightly dividing the word of truth [2 Timothy 2:15].”

PRAYER: Thank You, Father for the understanding that is found in Your Word about what constitutes saving faith. Because of its clear assertion about how we can enjoy spiritual rest in Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary, we need not fear falling short when it comes to experiencing the blessings You have secured for us! AMEN!
By Sis. Denise Diggs