Today my Bible Journaling took me to John 1:16, “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” (NLT) Today has been a fun day. Our church is participating in a fundraiser for our youth group. The kids decided to “decorate” an old toilet and the purpose is for the congregation to pay to have it removed from your yard when it arrives. Of course, you could buy insurance to keep it from showing up on your lawn, but what fun is that? LOL. Well this morning we got blessed! LOL It was passed along to us from some friends who had it yesterday. We’ve had a lot of laughs over it today with friends and family.
Today I am grateful and beyond blessed with the gift of laughter and with good friends who are so dear to us who feel free enough to prank us. But there is one blessing that is better than even having the ability to laugh or having great friends to joke around with, and that is the blessing of salvation. The Apostle John said that God has an abundance of blessings and He gives to us graciously. The best blessing is the offering of His Son, Jesus to take the punishment for our sins so that we could be saved from sin’s penalty of death.
Many people think that just going to church is what makes one a Christian. However, that’s not what God says. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (KJV) That means every single person has been born with a sin nature because of Adam’s sin at the very beginning. Every heart has a spirit of rebellion which is born in natural man. That is a spirit of rebellion against God. This creates a broken relationship with Him. God loved us so much, from the very beginning of time, that He created a plan to redeem us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV) God provided a way of escape through His Son, Jesus. He is the only means by which we are saved. John 17:3 says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know the, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (KJV)
Jesus Himself said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9 KJV) Acts 4:12 says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (KJV) Each one of us must decide whether to accept God’s gift or reject it. If we decide to accept God’s gift, He brings us into His family. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become sons of God, even to those who believe on His name.” (KJV) Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that faith comes only through the grace of God. “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (KJV) There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. No amount good works will save us, only faith in God through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus is standing at the heart’s door of each person, asking to be invited in. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (KVJ) All that is required is that we ask Him to forgive us of our sins, invite Him into our lives, and then promise to live for him for the rest of our days, and endeavor to follow Him. That is the greatest blessing we can receive. The Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:12) We never know if we have even the next second. Once we have closed our eyes in death, it is too late, no more opportunities will be offered. If you haven’t yet asked Jesus to come into your heart and life, today is a good day to receive the best gift you could ever receive and blessings above anything you can imagine.
donnasmusings 