BIBLE PASSAGE:
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us
so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live
together with him.
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)
MEDITATION:
Have you ever set aside some time to think about what God wants
for you? Not only what He wants for you, but His greatest desire
for every human being? Once we know His will for our lives, we
can set meaningful goals, can’t we? Until then, we are just living
our lives aimlessly with no direction or fulfillment.
God’s desire is for every person to ‘receive salvation through
Jesus Christ’. There we have it! That’s what God wants for
you. You now have a goal for your life!
It is not having a successful career; it is not attaining intellectual
prowess; it is not getting married and having a family; it is not
gaining fame and fortune. No, the goal for every human being is
to receive salvation from God. This means the Bible is one of our
most important resources.
As an example of the power of His Word, there is a well-known
intellectual giant who decided to prove the Bible is nothing more
than a fantasy, which some people believe to be real. But guess
what happened? In his quest to prove the Bible was not real, the
words he read convicted him, and he not only received salvation
from the Lord, but he began writing books promoting the reality
of God and His Word!
If we want to achieve God’s goal for our lives, we need to study His Word
so we can understand the requirements for receiving ‘salvation through
Jesus’. We shouldn’t rely on the opinions of others regarding salvation;
we should see how God defines our requirements by reading the Bible.
Some well-meaning people might make some mistakes when trying to
tell us about salvation. But when we read His Word, His instructions
are clear in explaining our responsibilities for receiving His salvation.
As an example, look at the following verse:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
We can see the link between God’s love and eternal life (salvation).
The link is belief. We have to believe that:
– God exists and He is the Creator of all things.
– Jesus Christ was God’s one and only Son.
– Jesus lived on earth as a human and yet still divine person.
– Jesus went to the cross as a living sacrifice for our sins.
– Jesus was crucified on that cross,
then buried and resurrected three days later.
– Jesus is now with His (and our) Father in heaven.
Our responsibility is to ‘believe’.
However, believing is not just having a ‘head knowledge’ of facts.
Belief means we develop a changed heart that affects everything
we say and do. Evidence of a changed heart is proven by turning
from a life of sin and becoming a person with a desire and effort
to obey God’s commands.
We might think of ourselves as a good person who is not living
a life of sinfulness, but according to God’s Word, our status is
‘sinner’ until we seek the Lord and commit to believing in, and
following Jesus.
We are told that when we obey His commands, it shows that our
hearts have been changed, and that we love Jesus more than we
do the ways of the world. Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
(John 14:15)
If we aren’t careful and aware, Satan will try to convince us that
obeying God means abiding by a list of things we should not do.
But obedience also means a willingness to discover the spiritual
gift God gave us when we received salvation, and using it in the
way He wants us to. Obeying includes ‘not doing’ and ‘doing’.
When we truly believe, then we are promised an eternal life,
where we will join Jesus in heaven and live with Him forever.
But we are promised blessings in this life as well. God’s Word
says we can also live with Jesus until we step into eternity.
He died for us so that, whether we are awake
or asleep, we may live together with him.
(1 Thessalonians 5:10)
When the scripture uses the word “awake”,
it is referring to ‘being alive’.
When it uses the word “asleep”,
it is talking about ‘death and eternity’.
ACTION:
We should ask ourselves:
– Do I want to live with Jesus now, and eternally?
– Do I read God’s Word to fully understand what is required of me?
– Have I taken the appropriate steps outlined in God’s Word for
receiving salvation?
– Am I showing my love for God through my obedience?
– Have I sought and found the spiritual gift He has given me?
– How am I using my spiritual gift in the way He has chosen for me?
God has given us a freedom of choice. We can ignore His invitation
to receive salvation, and we can create our own rules and guidelines
which fit our lifestyle. But we need to remember there will be a time
when we must face the reality of the existence of the Lord, and the
salvation plan He created. When we meet the Lord face to face, sadly
for some, it will be too late to change their eternal destiny.
If you have not received God’s salvation, then remember how the
intellectual atheist was changed when trying to prove the fallacy
of the Bible. Start reading God’s Word and give it an opportunity
to change you as well. You will never regret the time you spent
learning more about the Lord and His desires for you! It may be
beneficial to start by reading 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John.
1 John:
Fundamentals of Faith:
A reminder of the basics of Christianity;
emphasis on the importance of core beliefs.
Love, Truth, and Obedience:
Highlights the transformative power of genuine faith
and the necessity of living in accordance with divine truth.
Joy and Assurance:
Ensures believers can have complete joy and confidence
in their salvation; they can know they have eternal life.
Guarding Against False Teachers:
A warning about the presence of false teachers;
those who distort the truth of the Gospel.
2 John:
Truth and love are inseparable
Both are actions. God’s Word in our hearts will
become real actions that will always be shown in love.
3 John:
Steadfastness in Opposition:
Emphasizes the need for perseverance when facing
troubles created by others, including problems created
by other believers.
Fellowship and Hospitality:
Encouraging believers to show hospitality and support for
fellow Christians; highlighting this as a vital expression of faith.
Walking in Truth:
The importance of living according to the truth of
Christ’s teachings.
Sound Teaching and Obedience:
Underscores the significance of adhering to sound
doctrine and demonstrating love among believers.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your desire that everyone
would receive Your salvation. Thank You for Your book of
instructions that teach us what is required for us to receive
Your salvation. Thank You Jesus, for becoming a living
sacrifice for my sins so I can receive salvation from Your
(our) Father. Lord reveal to me any areas of my life that
need to change in order to receive Your salvation. Teach
me to show my love for You in all that I do and say.”
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