Sunday's Thought!

(C) Storyblocks, Used by Permission

It’s Canceled—You’re Free!

by Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding Ministries

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free 

from the law of sin and death."

- Romans 8:2

I’ve always found airplane flight amazing. Planes are so heavy, yet they fly! The pilot gets behind the controls, moves the throttle, and those great engines begin to roar. And the first thing I know, I’m flying. The law of gravity has no effect to cause me to fall 30,000 feet to earth because I’m in a plane overcoming that law, that downward pull on the airplane and on me.

Has the law of gravity been canceled? No, but another law, the law of aerodynamics, came into effect. A greater power than gravity was keeping me aloft. When you get right with God, the law of sin and death is still there. But for a Christian, there’s a new law—the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It sets us free from the law of sin and death.

That doesn’t mean the law of sin and death isn’t pulling on me, I’m not tempted or there’s not that downward pull. But hallelujah, there’s that upward pull, power of life in Christ Jesus.

Now, if I were to step outside the plane by my own choice, I’d go down. The law of gravity is always there. It’s also my choice as a Christian: if I cease to abide in Christ, the law of sin and death is always there. I have to stay in the plane; I have to abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, where there’s no more condemnation, no more control by sin.

As long as you abide in Jesus Christ, you’re free from the law of sin and death. Then it’s your turn to set another captive free with the Good News. Go out and share it with someone today.

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers and to learn about salvation, please visit Love Worth Finding, Assurance of Salvation

Devotion used by written permission of Love Worth Finding.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) Allen Pearson Photography

"In the beginning,

God created the heavens

and the earth. The earth was

without form and void, and darkness

was over the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God was hovering

over the face of the waters."

- Genesis 1:1-2

Sunday's Thought!

"Horizon View from the Beach"
Photo by Sam Wheeler on Unsplash

I just spent a week with a college buddy at Topsail Island, North Carolina. I had rented the house where we would stay more than a year ago for a few weeks and invited him to come to visit. He was my senior year roommate and lived to tell about it. More than a few times, I'm sure he was ready to kill me or, at the least, change roommates. But, he never did and stuck in there.

One of our mutual friends who lives not far from the beach was able to drive over and catch up with us. Of course, this added to our fun as she often remembered the people, the annoyances, and the laughs we can have now about those days. My wife enjoyed the stories of those days as we all laughed.

I do not remember much about my college days besides having him for a roommate and one or two other friends. Seems during the time when I took care of my parents and their deaths with my brother's death in between, I've lost some of the memories of the days before those trying years.

We shared a few memories of friends from those days, a few pranks, and some stories of days gone by. I felt my age creep up a bit as I realized the time that has passed. It dawned on me how awesome it is to catch up with friends from the early years of life again in my "old age."

As I sit and think about our time together, I smile and think about the clean and good fun we had. No profanity, no dirty jokes or comments or innuendos, no out-of-control alcohol, no drugs, no filthy television or movies- just a good clean fun time. Our exploring the island added to our laughs and enjoyment of each other's company.

One of the amazing things about our time together is how when we get together, it seems like we have never been apart living our lives in separate states hundreds of miles away.  Though we text throughout the year, and maybe some social media along the way, we have a peace between us that's more than just a getting together of old friends.

My friend's commitments to God is always evident regardless of whether they tell you in every other sentence. And, I know this is true not because we attended a Christian college but because of the happiness, contentment, and commitment to God when it needs to be shared or shown.

I might not get to see my friends as often I as would like. Even if I were to move closer to them, there is work commitments and the like. However, should something happen before we get to get together next year, I know I will see them in Heaven one day. Without a doubt! My two friends will head to heaven when they die. One already has a list of questions for God which I want to be there to hear the answers.

Seriously, heaven is a place where Christians will go when they die. However, it is not a place where anyone who calls themselves a Christian will go- you have to accept Christ as your Savior and commit your life to Him to make it there. God has given man a gift, the Gift of Salvation, which is free to man but he has to accept it. God will not force on us nor it is an automatic thing either. If you would like to learn more about God's Gift of Salvation, please visit Peace With God!