Morning, September 30
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Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.  — Psalm 66:2
Bible League: Living His Word
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
— Ephesians 1:7-8 NKJV

Why do you believe in Jesus? Is it because He did a miracle in your life? Is it because you saw someone getting healed miraculously? Is it because your prayers were answered when you were desperate for something? Is it because of the many signs you saw which led you to believe that this Jesus is probably real? Here's a good one - is it because you have seen that most professing Christians are somewhat good, kindhearted, polite, don't usually swear and are mostly helpful, and so you think Christianity is a good thing? What is the most forceful motivator that causes you to believe in Jesus? Why do you believe in Jesus?

Scripture gives examples of some who believed.

"Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe'" (John 1:50)?

"Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men..." (John 2:23-24).

"Jesus answered them and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled'" (John 6:26)

Yes, signs do cause unbelievers to draw near and examine the reality of the Gospel message we preach, but our faith in Him should not be as shallow as that. Our faith in Jesus should neither be based on personal experiences of miracles, healings, or answered prayers, nor on the observation of good behavior in other Christians.

The Bible tells us that everyone has fallen short of God's glory and that no one is righteous. We may try to change and promise ourselves and God that we will do better, but we often find ourselves unable to overcome our sinful nature, making it impossible for us to stand before a holy God.

It is important to understand that we need a savior. Jesus is that savior. Without this realization, our belief in Jesus may be superficial and based on emotions or personal desires and expectations. We may think that we deserve answers to our prayers or blessings from God because of our own righteousness. This mindset is prevalent in the "name it and claim it" Gospel message, in which people expect God to fulfill their desires without addressing the root problem of sin.

The truth is that none of us deserve anything from God. He is sovereign and doesn't owe us anything. However, out of His abundant grace and mercy, He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ.

Despite our unworthiness, God, in His mercy and love, made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus tore the veil that separated us from God's presence and made it possible for us to approach His throne of grace with boldness and confidence. Our faith in Jesus and what He has done for us allows us to have this access to God.

Signs, wonders, miracles, or the character of other Christians can be misinterpreted or misleading. Instead, our faith in God should be rooted in our understanding of our own sinfulness and our need for a savior. When we realize how much we have been forgiven, our love for Jesus grows, and our faith is based on gratitude. Every miracle and sign thereafter become an opportunity to express our gratitude and deepens our intimacy with God. It also serves as a powerful witness to those seeking God.

Let us not diminish the significance of what Jesus has done for us by focusing solely on signs and wonders. Approaching Him in prayer should humble us, recognizing His greatness and our unworthiness. Our faith should not be based on what we can gain from Jesus but on the fact that He is the savior who rescued us from our sin and reconciled us to God the Father.

So, why do you believe in Jesus? Let your belief be grounded in the understanding of your own sinfulness, the need for a savior, and the immense love and mercy of God. Let it be based on gratitude for the forgiveness and reconciliation provided through Jesus Christ.

By Santosh Chandran, Bible League International staff, New Zealand
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 19, 20, 21


Isaiah 19 -- The Burden of Egypt

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Isaiah 20 -- Prophecy of Captivity for Egypt and Cush

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Isaiah 21 -- Vision of the Fall of Babylon; Prophecies against Edom and Arabia

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Ephesians 2


Ephesians 2 -- You Were Made Alive and One in Christ

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Insight
In morally corrupt Corinth, love had become a mixed-up term with little meaning. Today people are still confused about love. Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God himself. Love involves unselfish service to others; to show it gives evidence that you care. Faith is the foundation and content of God's message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action.
Challenge
When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Psalm 66:2  Sing forth the honor of his name, make his praise glorious.

It is not left to our own option whether we shall praise God or not. Praise is God's most righteous due, and every Christian, as the recipient of his grace, is bound to praise God from day to day. It is true we have no authoritative rubric for daily praise; we have no commandment prescribing certain hours of song and thanksgiving: but the law written upon the heart teaches us that it is right to praise God; and the unwritten mandate comes to us with as much force as if it had been recorded on the tables of stone, or handed to us from the top of thundering Sinai. Yes, it is the Christian's duty to praise God. It is not only a pleasurable exercise, but it is the absolute obligation of his life. Think not ye who are always mourning, that ye are guiltless in this respect, or imagine that ye can discharge your duty to your God without songs of praise. You are bound by the bonds of his love to bless his name so long as you live, and his praise should continually be in your mouth, for you are blessed, in order that you may bless him; "this people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise;" and if you do not praise God, you are not bringing forth the fruit which he, as the Divine Husbandman, has a right to expect at your hands. Let not your harp then hang upon the willows, but take it down, and strive, with a grateful heart, to bring forth its loudest music. Arise and chant his praise. With every morning's dawn, lift up your notes of thanksgiving, and let every setting sun be followed with your song. Girdle the earth with your praises; surround it with an atmosphere of melody, and God himself will hearken from heaven and accept your music.

"E'en so I love thee, and will love,

And in thy praise will sing,

Because thou art my loving God,

And my redeeming King."

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Job 23:10  "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Psalm 103:14  For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Lamentations 3:33  For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men.

2 Timothy 2:19-21  Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." • Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. • Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Malachi 3:3  "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

Zechariah 13:9  "And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening September 29
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