Law And Grace

August 18, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 10:25, 26
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Loopholes, excuses, escapes, and trying to find a way out of things seem to consume the minds of many people. They spend all their time trying to find a way around the rules instead of obeying them and then using that extra time for enjoyment, learning, rest, and making things better for themselves and those around them. What a waste of talent and time.

 

     The verses today speak of a person called a lawyer, which means a student of the Mosaic Law, also known as a scribe. He is asking what it is I can do to inherit eternal life. For the average person, this would be a very good question. They may have never had the opportunity to read or hear God’s Word and find out the answer to this question before. However, the lawyer, as he was called, had already studied the law. He already knew the correct answer. Nevertheless, he asked the question anyway. Why? It was an attempt to get Jesus to trip up and fail in His answer. Jesus answered him with another question, “How do YOU read the law?”

 

     Today, many people have thrown out the law, saying, “We are living in a day of grace.” That is only partially true. By teaching only grace, we are teaching that the Law of God has no effect. However, the New Testament says the law shows us we are sinners and brings us to the cross. In Galatians 3:24, 25, Paul called the law our “schoolmaster.” Once we have Jesus in our hearts, we do not need a schoolmaster, as we have the law living in us. Our desire then is to be obedient to God’s Word. The law is still needed today to shine a light on sin. Jesus did not dismiss the law. He asked, “How do YOU read it?” He might have asked us the same question today. How do YOU read it? Or have you read it?

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     We must continue to see the law as a tool God has given and the boundaries He has set. Praise God, we are saved by grace through faith and are no longer under the law but under grace. Yet not being under the law does not dismiss the law. Thank God for it, as it still convicts man’s heart of sin.

 

How do you reconcile God’s Law and God’s Grace?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: August 18, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Isaiah 11-13 / Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 18 / Luke 10

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 69-72  /  Rom. 10

 

What Do You Thirst For?

August 16 & 17, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 42:2
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     People in America drink many different types of drinks. Coffee and pop seem to be among the favorites. I believe that is partially because of the caffeine. However, soda pop is also chosen by many because of its sweet taste. People love the sensations that come with the taste of things. We like the taste of things that are sweet, tart, sour, or bitter, all different kinds of flavors. Ask a kid if he would rather have an ice cube or a Popsicle. He will choose the   Popsicle every time. Why? Well, it is what his brain says he WANTS. It is part of that self-satisfaction drive we all seem to have.

 

     However, things change a bit when you really get thirsty. I am not talking of the “I could use a drink” kind of thirst. I am talking about the “I have been working all day in the sun without anything to drink” thirst. It is that my mouth is dry, and I need a drink badly thirst. The kind of thirst that makes you feel as if you have been in a desert for a few days. Now what do you want? Do you want some thick, syrupy, fruity drinks? No, my friend, you want WATER! Why? It is not because it is what you want, but because your body is telling you it is what you desperately NEED.

 

     That is the kind of thirst you need when you come to God. Not a passing type of thirst, saying, “Oh, God looks good, I think I will try Him for a while.” You need a thirst for God that says, “God, I need you. I will give my life to have you as you gave your life to have me. Use me as you see fit, as I realize you are the one and only LIVING GOD.” Now that is a thirsty soul. You do not need God to be just what you want; you need Him to be everything you require in life.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Take a moment today to drink from the fountain of real life. Jesus is that Spring of Living Water that never runs dry.

 

What Do You Thirst For?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  August 16, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 6-10 / Psalm 42-43
Proverbs 16 / Luke 8

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 65-68  /  Rom. 9

 

WHAT TO DO ON SUNDAY:

 

    There will not be a Daily Devotion sent out on Sundays. Instead, we encourage you to attend your church and listen intently to what God has prepared in the heart of your Pastor. Write down all the scriptures he uses in that message, then, when you get home, re-read those passages for today’s reading. God has given your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  August 17, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

 

Look, No Hands!

August 15, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 3:10, 11
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     When I was just a young boy, I recall riding my bicycle on the street in front of my house. My dad was sitting on the steps reading the paper. As I rode past, I took my hands off the handlebars, sat straight up on the seat, and yelled to my dad, “Hey, look, no hands.” (Do not tell me you never did that before too.) So, what do you think happened next? You guessed it. When I looked at my dad while showing off my newfound skill, it also caused the balance of things to go haywire. The next thing I knew, in just a split second, the handlebars began to wobble back and forth, then, down I went. Fortunately, I landed in a grassy area just off the side of the road. My bike was fine; I was fine, and even the yard I landed in suffered no damage. However, what happened next sure crushed my ego. My dad sort of snickered and said, “See what you get for showing off? You get what you deserve.” Was my dad just being mean? No, he was trying to teach his young son that show-offs often stumble over their own pride.

 

     Our verses today say the righteous will receive the rewards of their doings, and the wicked will receive the rewards of their doings as well. It is the same “you will get what you deserve” idea my dad shared that day. When you look at life, you see that God’s word is true. God often rewards us for the good we do serving Him. Then, just as promised, the unsaved one day will receive God’s judgment.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

      What is even better is that as a Christian, I do not get what I do deserve. When I fell off my bike, I could have hit the pavement and been hurt. However, I landed safely in the yard. At life’s end, I could have wound up in hell for the sin in my life. That is what I deserve. However, God, through His mercy, has saved my soul. Then, by His grace, He gives me what I do not deserve, HIS LOVE! Oh, what Amazing Grace.

 

How amazing is God’s Grace in your life?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  August 15, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 3-5 / Psalm 41
Proverbs 15 / Luke

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 58-64  /  Rom. 8

 

What Do You Want In Good Measure?
August 14, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Give! It almost seems every person in the world is asking us to give. The Churches, Charities, Schools, Television Evangelist, the Government, and people on the street, we do not even know. So, who is it that we should give to that would make God happy?

 

     The answer may be as simple as this. Give as God gives, and to whom God might give. How does God give? He gives with no expectation of repayment. What can we give back to God that He does not already have and own? When God gives out of His love, there is no advantage for Him to gain from this. No repayment could be enough. God does not bless us expecting a bonus from His gift. He does so simply because He loves us, and because He can. The only thing we can give God that He does not automatically have is our love and undying devotion to Him for all of who He is. How does He repay our love? Our verse says with good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. This term was used in the old days when a merchant would measure out grain. They would be sure of a good measure or all they could get if they pressed it down, shook it so it would settle, and then kept filling it until it ran over. This is how God repays us for our gifts of love to Him. Completely. So, whatever we give to God, whether talent, treasure, or time, we must remember to give it in love. Paul told the church in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     “Give and it shall be given unto you…” Does this mean what we give is what we get? Money for money? Well, sort of, but then what good is a dollar for a dollar? It also means that if you give with an unselfish, loving heart, then you will receive unselfish love back. Pour out blessings, receive blessings. Pour out anger, and it comes back too. 

 

So, my friend, what do you want in good measure coming your way today?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  August 14, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 1, 2 / Psalm 40
Proverbs 14 / Luke 6

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 52-57  /  Rom. 7