Christ Will Succeed where Environmentalists Fail

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22

We all know the story of Humpty Dumpty. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again. That truth applies to the world we live in. It is broken and it can’t be fixed. That doesn’t mean we have to break it more; but we must realize that because of sin it is in an unfixable state. Man alone is not fallen; all creation is fallen with us.

In the Garden God cursed four things or people. He cursed the serpent. He cursed Eve. He cursed Adam, and He cursed the earth. (Genesis 3:14-19) Since that moment the perfect creation has groaned under the pain of man’s sin. But it awaits the full redemption when Christ returns to set everything right; a perfect new creation without sin or the curse. Therefore Isaiah can say, “The trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Is. 55:12) What a wondrous day it will be when Jesus makes all things new.

Dear Father, Thank You for the promise that You will make all things new. Amen.

I cover this topic more completely in my book, "The Christian Citizen in Modern America". 

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No Condemnation in Christ!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

Do you need hope today? Do you need peace today? Do you need a touch of assurance today? This is your verse: no condemnation in Christ! After all of Paul’s laments of his failures, he concludes with this great promise: no condemnation in Christ! Before Paul introduces us to the sublime truth that even now Christ intercedes for us in heaven, he boldly declares: no condemnation in Christ. “I may still sin,” Paul says, “but in reality I am dead to sin and Christ lives in me.” Therefore there is no condemnation in Christ.

This verse brings to mind two grand old hymns. The great evangelist Daniel Whittle wrote these words. “Christ liveth in me, Christ liveth in me, O! what a salvation this: That Christ liveth in me.” Charles Wesley’s great anthem, “And Can It Be” has this line. “No condemnation now I dread, I am my Lord’s and He is mine: alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine.” Why? Because there is no condemnation in Christ.

Dear Father, Let me rejoice today in the perfection of Christ. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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We May Deceive Ourselves; but not God

“For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, I do.” Rom. 7:19

I have met some pretty uppity people in my time. They are so sure of their own righteousness that they barely deign to be in the company of sinners. These are people who believe that they have become perfect in the flesh and feel sorry for all the other poor Christian sinners who haven’t arrived yet. We all tend to this way of thinking to a certain extent. We have become “more” obedient than the next person because we do less bad things than we see them doing.

We all need a quick lesson from Paul. He says that he still gave into the flesh when he didn’t want to and failed to live in the Spirit when he did want to. He doesn’t say that he used to do that. He says that he is still doing that at the time he wrote this letter. He isn’t proud of it, but he is not going to deny doing it. He knows that his only hope each day is Christ, not self.

Dear Father, Help me not to get uppity toward those who I falsely assume are worse Christians than me. Help me understand my only hope each day is Christ. Amen.

                                                   The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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Don't Wear a Pepsi Shirt and Drink Coke

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves.” Romans 6:16

If I drive a Pepsi truck I will wear a Pepsi shirt. In their truck and in their shirt I have submitted myself to their control. I am their slave. I cannot drink Coke. It would be ridiculous to do so. I am not Coke’s slave. This is how it is with Christ. We are baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:6) and that mark of baptism now signifies us as His slave. If we are Christ’s slave, we are not to be the devil’s slave.  

That we will still sin is a given. We still possess our flesh and we will still give into it. But, we are not supposed to think, “Oh, I think I want to go and sin today. I don’t want to obey my new Master.” No, we are not supposed to plan and scheme to sin. We will do enough of it by our own nature. We are Christ’s, and we are to live as slaves to His righteousness.

Dear Father, I confess that I sin, please forgive me and keep my mind steadfast on living for Christ. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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Does God's Grace Encourage Us to Sin? God Forbid!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!” Romans 6:1-2

Throughout church history many groups have come along and stated quite boldly, that since Christ has died for our sins, it doesn’t matter how many more we commit. In fact, we prove his love daily by committing even more than yesterday. That may amaze some people, but it is a fact that there have been, and are today, groups that teach that lie.

Their problem is that they have neglected to read their Bible. Claiming grace while living in deliberate sin makes a mockery of the confession of faith. When we are saved the Holy Spirit now dwells within, and he hates sin. He is moving us to “live righteously and godly in this present age”. It is not that we won’t sin; it is that we will not want to live in sin. Daily we will want to become more like our betrothed Husband, Jesus Christ, and imitate His life, which was sinless.

Dear Father, guide me today to be more like Jesus and less like the devil. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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One Man for all Men

“By the righteous act of one, the free gift came upon all men” Romans 5:18

The famine increased and food grew scarce. Eventually the hungry people could take no more and stormed the grocery store and ransacked all the food. The store owner had installed a security camera and all the thieves were quickly identified and brought for punishment. Then one man stepped forward and said, “I know they have stolen and deserve punishment; but I wish to pay for all the food. Plus I want to pay for all the food for any other hungry person who comes here so that he doesn’t die of starvation.”

Some of the offenders rejoiced and loved the generous man. Others said they had their pride and would find their own way to pay. Payment had been made by one for all. All were included, but not all accepted the payment. Jesus paid for all the sins of all mankind from Adam onward. All are included; but some foolishly decide to try and pay their own debt. That is not the failure of the Savior but proof of the sinfulness of mankind. 

Dear Father, Thank You for freedom from eternal punishment through the gift of Your Son. Amen

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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Saved by the Blood of the Crucified One

“Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood.” Romans 3:25

What does that big word mean? It means to “cause to be conciliated or reconciled”. How does that reconciliation take place? It takes place only through the blood of Jesus Christ. Imagine that we are on a snake, mosquito, and vermin infested island without any trees, which is surrounded by hungry sharks. We have been placed there because of our offenses against righteous authority. We want off. We can’t get off. We need help. We need to be reconciled to the authority on the other side. How can we do that if the authority has turned His back on us?

The authority must make the decision to provide a way. He sends his son into the shark infested water where the son is torn to bloody pieces. That blood then congeals into a bridge across the deadly water. Then the authority turns to us and beckons us to come to him.  That’s how we get across. That is the only way we can be reconciled, propitiated, to God – by Jesus’ blood.

Dear Father, Thank You for the sacrifice of Your own son that I may be reconciled to You. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

If you don’t already subscribe to this blog, you can do so and receive it each day M-F by choosing the Abundant Grace section on my website and signing up for free delivery every day.