Daily Devotional for April 28, 2016

John 5:24    
“It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living."

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
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Have you ever signed onto a new website, and you were asked to register, supply a login, and create a password?  Sometimes, you are “in” right away.  Other sites respond with a message that further instructions have been delivered to your e-mail account, and if you follow the links, you can set up your account and visit the website.

I know that these are “security measures.”  I understand that this is for our protection.  But in a world where things are often so complicated, isn’t it great to know that obtaining salvation and forgiveness of our sins – and the guarantee of Eternal Life in the presence of Jesus – are simple and instantaneous?  Aren’t we glad that when we say, “Lord Jesus, forgive me for my sins and come into my heart,” the response is not a list of steps we must take to complete the process?  Even better... isn’t it great that this guarantee is “fully secure?”

What if we gave our hearts to Jesus and heard, “Okay, now you have to memorize XYZ scriptures, give a certain amount to this charity or that one, stand on a street corner in rags and confess your sinfulness, and attend church every time the doors are open…and THEN you will be assured of a seat at My Heavenly Table.”  How many people would sign on for this?

We want to make our relationship with Jesus so difficult…and Jesus wants to make it ever-so-simple.  Confess your sins…accept Jesus’ offer of complete salvation and redemption…and go in peace.  Serve Him with a faithful, glad, and confident heart…because you want to – not because you have to!  It really is that simple to be “in” with God for all Eternity.  So why are we trying to make it so hard?

      
©2016 Debbie Robus

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