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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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Healing
Psalms 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Proverbs 11:21
[Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Isaiah 57:18
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Matthew 4:24
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Matthew 8:16, 17
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Matthew 10:1, 7, 8
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease…And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 13:54-58
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 17:14-20
And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you
Mark 16:17-20
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Luke 9:1, 2, 6
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick…And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Additional Scriptures
Healing Ps. 6:2; Isa. 6:10; Acts 9:34; 14:8-10; 1 Cor. 12:9; James 5:16
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