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Daily Inspirational Devotionals
The Source of Life They replied, “What does God want us to do?” (John 6:28) Even when Jesus clearly explains grace, we tend to argue with him. He tells us how to gain salvation, and we shake our head in disbelief. He gives us the Good News, and we flip through the paper looking for the bad. Surely there’s something he’s left out, we think. It can’t be that easy. “Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you,” Jesus told the crowd of curious onlookers. “For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose” (John 6:27). His words were clear, but their skepticism was deep. “They replied, ‘What does God want us to do?’” (John 6:28). When faced with the free gift of salvation, they wondered how they should go about earning it. “We understand our need for eternal life,” they were saying. “But what do we need to do to get it?” Jesus understood their confusion, and he answered by reiterating his earlier promise. “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:29). We are the ones who make it complicated. We are the ones who want to earn God’s acceptance and approval. We are the ones who try to attach conditions to God’s plan of redemption. But Jesus only asks one thing. That we put our faith in him. That we trust him to save us. That we believe in his promise of eternal life for all who would call on his name. That we accept the gift with love and faith and graciousness. Try to pay for a gift, and you’ve done nothing but insult the giver. Try to work off its worth, and you’re working in vain. A gift is free for the taking, or it is no gift at all. Things have changed very little since the days that Jesus walked the earth. He continues to hold out the free gift of eternal life, and people continue to try to pay him for it. We’re still wondering what God wants us to do. And two thousand years later, his answer hasn’t changed. “Believe in the one he has sent.”
Today’s Reading John 6:28; Acts 2:21 Reflection In what ways do you try to earn God’s gift of salvation? How can you learn to embrace the unconditional grace of God?
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The best-selling Left Behind series has captured the attention of millions of readers, and it has changed lives. It has brought millions of believers the motivation to examine their hearts. Are you ready to embrace eternity? Live each moment as if it could be your last? Your future is more important than your past. Where you are going matters more than where you have been. What you do from this day forward means much more than what you have already done. You may be affected by your past, but you are not defined by it. Not in the eyes of God. What does it mean to embrace eternity? It means grasping each breath as if it could be your last, living life moment by precious moment with your feet planted firmly on earth but your heart aimed squarely at heaven. It means learning to embrace the role of dual citizenship—living in one world while belonging to another. It is a lifestyle of living like there’s no tomorrow and then dying so that your real life can finally begin! This 365-day devotional explores the themes introduced in the Left Behind series—themes of salvation, grace, obedience, and faith. New believers as well as mature believers will find a message of faith that will inspire and motivate daily.
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