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| Grace will lead us home - John14:1-8 | Scripture
John 14:1-8
Devotional
The Bible says, “God has placed Eternity in our hearts.” Down deep in our hearts we know that we have significance that reaches beyond time and space. And we long for home. Where is that home? Jesus said,
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." John 14:1-4 NKJV
Jesus is the way. Grace is the only ticket that grants entry into Heaven. Isaac Watts sings, “Through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come. Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.” Grace is extended to those who accept God’s gift.
Back in 1830 George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson, but he refused to accept it. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. "A pardon is a slip of paper," wrote Marshall, "the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged." 2,000 years ago; God the Son, Jesus the Christ, issued a pardon. But, just like in the case of George Wilson, the value of the pardon is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon.
God has issued a pardon in the Name of His Son. We are under a sentence of death. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal life.” We are in need of grace.
It is human to believe that we must do something to merit salvation and qualify for entrance into Heaven. We may do good works, and indeed we ought to, but they do not qualify us for eternal life. You do not need to do what God has already done.
On the night of May 26, 1996, a great tragedy occurred in Houston, Texas. Cora Lee Taylor, her husband, and their two grandchildren were awakened by fire. In panic, they fled the burning house. All four of them escaped safely, but the fifty-eight-year-old grandmother didn’t see that her husband had rescued both grandchildren. Without thought or inquiry, Mrs. Taylor ran back into the flames to rescue the grandchild she believed was still in the house. Tragically, Cora Lee Taylor died searching for the child that had already been rescued.
Likewise, if we try to do what Jesus has already, done, we will lose our lives. By faith accept God’s forgiveness. His grace is your passport to Heaven.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for placing in my heart the desire to enter Heaven to spend eternity with you. Thank you for giving your son, Jesus, as my Saviour. Forgive me of all my sin and lead me by your Spirit until I enter the gates of Heaven to be in your presence
Meet the Author
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Pastors Gary and Eva Winsor are ministers with The Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld. Gary and Eva have ministered as Youth Pastors, Missionaries in Taiwan, Pastoral Care Counselors and are currently pastoring Bethesda Penetecostal Church, St. John's, Nfld. They have four children: Christina, Robert, Lynette and Danielle. You may visit thier web site at: www.bethesda.nf.ca |
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Ability
Exodus 18:18
"Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.
Exodus 18:21
"Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Psalms 103:5
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Nehemiah 5:8
And I said to them, "According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?" Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
John 5:19
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
John 10:29
My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.
Acts 11:28-29
Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
Romans 15:14
Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one an
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:14-21
For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
2 Corinthians 1:4
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Ephesians 4:11-13
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
2 Timothy 3:15
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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