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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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Guidance
Deuteronomy 31:8
And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Psalms 25:12
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
Psalms 32:8
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalms 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psalms 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Psalms 73:24
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory
Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Isaiah 45:2
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Isaiah 49:10
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Isaiah 58:11
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Jeremiah 10:23
LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
John 10:1-5
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
John 16:3
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Additional Scriptures;
Giving: Prov. 14:21;22:9; Matt. 25:34-46; Luke 21:1-4; 1Co.16:1, 2; Gal. 6:9,10; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; 1John 3:16-18.
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