AMAZING IS THE GRACE OF GOD!

SCRIPTURE

Amos 9: 1-4 (NRSV)

God searches out rebellious Israel

I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said:
Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake,
and shatter them on the heads of all the people;
and those who are left I will kill with the sword;
not one of them shall flee away,
not one of them shall escape.

Though they dig into Sheol,
from there shall my hand take them;
though they climb up to heaven,
from there I will bring them down.
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
from there I will search out and take them;
and though they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the sea-serpent, and it shall bite them.
And though they go into captivity in front of their enemies,
there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them;
and I will fix my eyes on them
for harm and not for good.

DEVOTION

Isn’t this a scary scripture! Goodness gracious! It makes me scared to think of rousing God’s anger to the point that God promises to “fix his eyes on me for harm and not for good.”

It seems very clear from this scripture how God feels about idolatry, sin, and lawlessness! God hates sin and can’t abide it. When we flagrantly sin, refusing to see the error of our ways and feeling truly unrepentant in our hearts, we invite disaster into our lives.

By our own actions, we bring about consequences we never even imagined! But, there is yet hope!

This side of the cross, we encounter the love, forgiveness, and grace of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus! Although we still sin and miss the mark, we have the opportunity to confess our sin, receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, and inherit eternal life.

Isn’t God’s Amazing Grace wonderful?! God showered us with love when God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.

In the past, God’s righteous anger burned against his stubborn and disobedient children. But, aren’t you glad that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Ex 34:6)?”

Aren’t you grateful that we can “confess our sin and God who is faithful and just will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)?”

I don’t know about you, but I choose to fall into God’s love and Amazing Grace! I choose to fall into the arms of Jesus and live!

God has promised, “I have a good plan for you, not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope (Jer 29:11)!”

Oh hallelujah! I believe that with all my heart! Because I have chosen to make my camp under the blood stained banner of Jesus Christ, I am assured of a bright and glorious future full of life and not death, blessing and not punishment, good and not evil!

My soul can barely contain my joy! God is good (all the time)! And all the time (God is good)!

Come on and celebrate God’s Amazing Grace with me! HALLELUJAH!

Will you confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness today?

Holy One, thank you that you have made provision for my sin to be forgiven and for me to inherit eternal life. I know that I am sinful and don’t deserve your Amazing Grace. Yet, your love and grace envelop me in Jesus! Thank you that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for me. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I stand in awe of your love and I want to share that love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!

Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

REALLY...HOW MUCH DO I OWE?

SCRIPTURE

Romans 3:21-31 (NRSV)
Righteousness through faith

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.


DEVOTION

In today’s reading the Apostle Paul really gives us a very important Holy Ghost inspired reminder! His words remind us that we are not made right with God by keeping the Law, because all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. We are not made right with God through our good works, lest we should begin to boast about all the good things we do for others. We are not made right with God by any external action or factor such as circumcision, or wearing the flashiest cross, or carrying the biggest Bible. No, no my friends! The only way that we are made right with God is by putting all of our faith in Jesus!

Now, I don’t know about you, but I am really happy about this GOOD NEWS! It sets me free to live my life to God’s glory, but without fear or shame. I can do the best that I can, but trust that when I do fall down, God will pick me up. I can pour out my life in love and service to others; but also believe that when I need to rest, God does not frown upon me. I can give my best to Jesus in all that I do, but trust that if I don’t look or sound or act exactly like the pastor, deacon, or church council member, I’m still alright with God!

See, God has made salvation simple. The Bible promises that as long as we confess with our mouths that, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we are saved! (Romans 10:9) We are made righteous because we are covered in the blood of the lamb and we are now justified because of God’s grace. There is nothing—absolutely NO-THING—that we can do to earn God’s love and there is nothing—absolutely NO-THING—that we can do to make God ever stop loving us!

Wow! Isn’t that Amazing, GRACE…

In what ways have you been trying to earn your salvation? Are you willing to release that burden today?


Holy God, how great Thou art! Your loving kindness and tender mercies astound me! Thank you that you have made our relationship so simple. I don’t have to do anything to earn my salvation; JESUS already paid the price for me! Now, I get to serve you. I get to love you and I get to share your love with others! I am so excited…please help me to be faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Any of the songs that I have shared in the GOOD NEWS devotionals, can be found in the GOOD NEWS LIVING store by clicking on the link to the right!

The Good News Living Book Club will be reading Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard during March. You can purchase the book by clicking the link to the right. Please mark your calendars for our very first book club meeting to be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 9:00am.

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

GIMME A BREAK!

SCRIPTURE

Job 4:1-21 (NRSV)

Eliphaz speaks of sin

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
But who can keep from speaking?
See, you have instructed many;
you have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have supported those who were stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
Is not your fear of God your confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?

"Think now, who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.
By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
"Now a word came stealing to me,
my ear received the whisper of it.
Amid thoughts from visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
dread came upon me, and trembling,
which made all my bones shake.
A spirit glided past my face;
the hair of my flesh bristled.
It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
there was silence, then I heard a voice:
'Can mortals be righteous before God?
Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
Even in his servants he puts no trust,
and his angels he charges with error;
how much more those who live in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed;
they perish forever without any regarding it.
Their tent-cord is plucked up within them,
and they die devoid of wisdom.'

DEVOTIONAL

On Ash Wednesday you may have gone to your church to have ashes placed upon your head. In my place of worship, as the ashes were distributed the pastor stated, “Remember you are ash and to the ash you will return.”

This was a very profound and humbling message on that day of repentance. The GOOD NEWS is that God is very aware that we dwell in “houses of clay.” God know us intimately and loves us anyway.

God loves us so much that God gave Jesus upon the cross to be atonement for our sin and to secure our eternal relationship with God.

Whilst this Lenten Season is all about examining ourselves before God and rooting out the hidden sin-full-ness that dwells within us, let us also remember that our God is loving and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love!

God does not ask us to confess so that God can point the finger of condemnation at us; God asks us to confess so that we can experience God’s love and amazing grace!

During this Lenten Season I want to share something with you that a wise woman once shared with me. She said, “Be gentle with yourself and others and be non-judgmental of yourself and others.”

If we walk in humility in the coming days, I believe we will draw ever closer to the heart of God and in that heart we will discover boundless love for ourselves and our neighbors.

How can you be gentler with yourself today?

Loving God, I admit that I am often too hard on myself and others. Help me to be more gentle and kind. In Jesus Name, Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Good News Living Book Club will be reading Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard during March. You can purchase the book by clicking the link to the right. Please mark your calendars for our very first book club meeting to be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 9:00am.

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

I COULD...BUT I WON'T

*If you would like to read this blog in another language, please use the "Google Translate" button to the right!

1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 (NRSV)
Do all to God's glory

My favorite line from today’s Bible passage is, “Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other.” This is so entirely countercultural that it excites me! See, in contemporary society, most of us are taught to look out for Number 1. We are taught that we should do all for our own benefit or the benefit of our family and friends. We seek to make our name great—to become rich and famous! We carefully do everything we can to advance our agendas, goals, and dreams sometimes even at the expense of others.

But the GOOD NEWS is that Christians are taught to do exactly the opposite by Paul! Paul says in effect, “Do what will benefit, help, and build up somebody else.” He seems particularly concerned about being cognizant of the needs of non-Christians in this regard.

We know that we are free in Christ Jesus to do anything that does not eschew the Law of Love. But, Paul says, “just because something is lawful, doesn’t mean that it is beneficial.” What is the benefit that Christians should be concerned about? It is simple. We seek to share GOOD NEWS-- and be GOOD NEWS--in the lives of people who need it.

For example, many of the people that I have tried to win to Christ are alcoholics. It is lawful for me to drink alcohol in moderation. There is nothing in my understanding of Scripture, nor in denominational doctrine that would prohibit it. But, I choose not to drink alcohol around these friends. Why? It would be a stumbling block for them. They may think, “Alcohol is bad. If she loves Jesus, why is she drinking?” Or they may erroneously think, “She’s a strong Christian, if she can do it so can I.” Or they may just think, “I can’t hang around with her, she’ll cause me to mess up my program.” In my church, we even go so far as to provide grape juice during the Lord’s Supper for these friends! We understand that grape juice is “fruit of the vine” and so permissible and we also understand that our new friends cannot imbibe the wine because it may cause them to be led astray in their desires.

This is just one example of how we can accommodate new friends for the sake of the Gospel, but I know there are many more. The bottom line is this, we must do all that we can to share the GOOD NEWS with those who have not heard, have forgotten, or have rejected the God who loves them. Sometimes this means taking into consideration the feelings and conscious of the new friends we seek to share GOOD NEWS with.

God loved all of us so much that Jesus was willing to die on the cross to forgive our sins and to make us friends with God. God radically accommodated us by taking on a body of flesh, becoming human, and dying a dreadful death on the cross! Isn’t that Amazing Grace? In response to this great love, we share some of that same grace with others by forfeiting our advantage in order to bring glory to God, for the sake of the cross.

This type of mentality requires discipline and humility. We will often want to do what we want to do. But, the GOOD NEWS constrains us! It calls to us with arms of love wide open to find a way—any loving and moral way—to lead people into a loving relationship with Christ!

Is there some behavior you need to change today in order to share GOOD NEWS with somebody who shares your life?

Holy God, help us to do all that we can to share the GOOD NEWS with others. If there are behaviors that we need to change in order to make the Gospel attractive and palatable to others, help us to do it gladly and with great joy! We want everyone to know and experience your love, just as we have. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

*The entire scripture reading for today can be found by clicking the ELCA Daily Bible Reading Tab to the right.

*from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

*EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

*Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.