Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

It's from "Wondering Where the Lions Are" by Bruce Cockburn.

Reminded me of a book my wife just read.

Drawing on the principles in 2 Corinthians 5:9-11...

So we make it our goal to please him,

whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions.

We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

...John Bevere, in "Driven By Eternity", reminds us that all believers will stand before Christ to receive what they have earned in life.

Many of us will be shocked to learn that we spent the majority of our time on things that didn't count toward eternal rewards.

Truth be told, most people would be left destitute if they planned their futures as carelessly as they've prepared for eternity.

Even believers often neglect this vital component of the Christian life:

we actually give little thought to what will happen beyond the end of today.

In building our lives to be ready for that Day of Judgment

and maintaining an eternal frame of reference,

we will develop significant lives.

Learning to keep sight of the goal will allow us to begin laboring for rewards that endure-

for eternity.

That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure.

It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment.

That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11

The first step if you've just stumbled upon this blog...

You have to get things right with God.

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent.

Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives.

Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!

..."but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins.

Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved!

Romans 10:13 says it again, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God.

Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins.

Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

If this makes sense, maybe you would like to pray this prayer...

"God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"

If I can be of any help in your walk with Jesus, please e-mail jim@christiancommentary.com