A New Mind Leads to a New Life

“But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

My grandson likes the Transformers. I can’t tell one from another, but he can. He thinks Transformers are neat. They can change from one thing into another. That is pretty cool, actually. Just think if we could transform ourselves into anything we wanted to be; what would it be? My two year old grandson would probably want to be transformed into a car that could stop bad guys. We are not two, so what do we want?

God wants us to transform the programming center of our body. He wants us to renew our minds. He wants our minds filled with His Word. He wants our thought processes redirected from self to Christ. This will happen as we read, study, know, hear, and love the Word. His Spirit, who wrote the Word, will bear witness with our spirit how we can live that Word. Like my grandson, we need to love the idea of being transformed.

Dear Father, Help me be transformed each day through the Word. 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

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Is this vile world a friend of grace to bring me home to God?

“And be not conformed to this world . . .” Romans 12:2

Have you watched any TV lately? Have you seen on any major network an advertisement for a product designed to glorify God? Have you seen any advertisements for products to indulge the flesh? This world is not a friend to God. In fact, this world hates God. Jesus said so in John 15:18, “If this world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” As Isaac Watts asked in one of his hymns, “Is this vile world a friend of grace to bring me home to God?” The answer was and is “NO!”

So why do we want to be so much like something that hates our Savior? What allure does it have that we would want to live like, think like, and desire worldly ways when those ways are contrary to, and openly enemies of, God? Would it not be better to conform to the image of Christ? Therefore, Paul says in Corinthians, be imitators of me as I also am of Christ.

Dear Father, Help me guard my heart and mind from worldly conformity. Amen.

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The Living Speak Better than the Dead

“That you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” Romans 12:1

A trip through an old cemetery will give us some interesting epitaphs. Some can be humorous, some serious, some poetic, and some so personal it is like an invasion of privacy to read them. The thing is, not many people go to those old cemeteries and read the epitaphs. The final words of the dead are seldom heard. We do a better job of communicating when we are alive.

Therefore, God wants living sacrifices, not dead ones. God wants to use our words, our actions, our emotions, and our fervor for Him while we are alive. He wants us to sacrifice the desires for self-indulgence and replace it with spiritual dedication. He wants the evidence of our life to exhibit heavenly enthusiasm. Such enthusiasm places Christ firmly in first place in all the affairs of our life. That is a living sacrifice. That is our reasonable response to the sacrifice of Christ for us.

Dear Father, May a passion for Your glory be my consuming fire. Amen.

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A Compelling Reason for Change

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God . . .” Romans 12:1

When presenting a case for a major change to the way a system works, the first thing to do is to explain why things would be better if the system were changed. The last paragraph of that new proposal begins with the word “therefore”. Paul has presented 11 chapters of reasons the system of living our lives needs to change. We were sinners in a reprobate state of certain condemnation. God intervened with grace through the blood of His Son. God the Father and God the Son have acted on our behalf and also given us God the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives.

Therefore, by the mercies of God, we need to live our lives differently than we did before we knew Christ. Freedom from sin and judgment compel us. His love compels us. His presence compels us. The evidence of history compels us. Therefore, we now need to live for Him instead of ourselves.

Dear Father, Help me daily to live for the glory of Your Name. Amen.  

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God is Wiser than Us All

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33

The hardest word to answer is “why”. The problem is that we feel compelled to know the answer. Our human minds rebel against the unknown. When we can’t figure out “why”, we tend to blame God. When something bad happens, it’s always His fault. But what if it wasn’t really something bad? What if it is only bad in our puny human understanding?

We can’t know why God does what He does. His wisdom and knowledge dwarf all of human accomplishments more than a great blue whale dwarfs an amoeba. This is why Paul tells us to live by faith. Faith trusts God to know what is right. Faith trusts God to always be true to His character. Faith trusts, because even if He tried to explain it we still wouldn’t understand.

Dear Father, Everyday help me to trust that You know best. Amen. 

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God's Gifts Are Without Repentance

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29

What kind of giver would retract the gift each time a person failed to meet the giver’s expectations? We would think that person to be unloving, unforgiving, uncaring; in short we would see that person as a real baddie! Well, God is good. And when God gives gifts He does not do so with repentance: He does not take back the gift.

God gives faith (Eph. 2:8) and God gives eternal life (Rom. 6:23). We couldn’t muster enough faith to fill half a mustard seed on our own. God gave us faith so that we could also have the gift of eternal life. God does not retract, or repent, of His gifts. Then God gives us gifts to use for His glory. He isn’t repenting of those either. We can confidently say that God gives His gifts freely and without retraction. He can, and does, still disapprove of our sin; but His gift of grace and of the Holy Spirit moves us to repentance and joy in His forever gifts.

Dear Father, Thank You for the faithfulness of all that You give. 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

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We Are Part of an Advancing Kingdom

“I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Romans 11:4

Sometimes being a Christian can be a lonely, even scary, thing. There is overt government hostility to righteousness. There is increasing media attention denouncing righteousness. There are more and more global reports of Christian persecution. Sometimes believers can feel very alone. Elijah had felt this way and God had given him some encouragement.

We are not alone. The number of Bible believing Christians is larger in China than the United States. Asian nations now send more missionaries than does the United States. God’s word and God’s work is not dead; it is on the march. We can be encouraged and be encouragers. Let us pray more fervently for the believers around the world and be confident in the future when Christ will reign supreme.

Dear Father, Forgive us for being too self-centered to remember that You are really in control and that You have faithful children everywhere. Amen.

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Beautiful Shoes of the Gospel

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel.”  Romans 10:15

My daughter likes shoes. She could open her own store and sell all those she has only worn once and then go on a Caribbean cruise. She is a professional woman and wants her feet to look nice. God wants our feet to look nice as well. He just has a different formula for how they will.

In our verse today Paul is quoting from Isaiah 52. God declared that the feet of those who travel the mountains to bring good news are beautiful feet. Picture the worn and calloused feet of Paul who walked over many mountains to preach Christ. Picture the worn and tired feet of the old preacher who walked door to door telling others of Jesus. When God looks at those worn out feet, He sees great beauty. Our feet, like the rest of our bodies, have the purpose to glorify God. Let us use them to carry the message of salvation to others.

Dear Father, Help me to focus all my being on making Your Name glorious. Amen. 

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Inspired, Inerrant, Infallible: God's Glorious Word

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God.” Romans 10:17

I was doing a book signing at a secular book store. Across the aisle from my signing table was the book The Making of Christ. It blatantly disregarded every historical evidence that the Bible is true and made up a story of how the Church created Christ as God! From the rationalists of the 19^th century to their descendants, the liberals of today, there has been a full scale assault against the truth of God’s Word.

Paul said that we can only be saved through hearing God’s Word. If it isn’t God’s Word then it follows that we can’t be saved. Only a perfect and honest God could give a word with such power as to save mankind. There is no salvation apart from God’s Word! That is why the followers of Christ say that we believe in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. It is that powerful God breathed Word that brings the conviction of sin and the light of salvation.

Dear Father, Let me treasure Your Word as my absolute guide to truth. Amen

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Someone Must Tell Them

“How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” Romans 10:14

Paul began this chapter of Romans with the statement, “My heart’s desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved.” Paul had a burden in his heart for the lost. It wasn’t a once a week expression during mid-week prayer meeting. It was his heart’s desire. He knew the danger of dying in sin and he wanted all to hear. He prayed for others and then told as many as he could.

God’s will isn’t that some Christians be concerned about the lost. His will is that all His people would be. His will is that that concern would be expressed in prayer and speech. God doesn’t save people apart from His word. The lost must hear the word of God to be saved, just like we did. Do we have a list of missionaries that we faithfully pray for? Do we openly tell others of the Savior? The lost can’t hear if we don’t let them hear the word.

Dear Father, Help me be that witness that someone needs to know You. Amen. 

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By God's Mercy; Not Our Efforts

“So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Romans 9:16

I enjoy watching sports. I am not a fanatic of a team but fan of the game. What I really enjoy is to watch the amazing skill the professionals display when they play. They have worked so hard, been so disciplined to get where they are. They continue to give it their all to stay at that level and remain a star. It is truly a matter of will and of human effort. Too many people think that our eternal life, the great reward, is gained the same way.

People can be extremely self-disciplined. They can maintain great self-control. They can push themselves to extremes of piety or asceticism. They think that like the athlete they will gain the ultimate prize of heaven by their great effort. God said it doesn’t work that way. We are saved by grace through faith. Personally I am very thankful for that; otherwise I would never make it. And neither will anyone else.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your mercy that has saved my soul. 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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Guaranteed Promises: Freely Given in Christ

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32

This verse is dangerous in the hands of a charlatan and used too freely by prosperity gospel promoters. What does it really mean? The context of Romans 8 tells us clearly. God is good, always good. He has redeemed us from the curse of sin. He has called us His children. He has given us His Spirit. He has given us eternal life. But those things are always being challenged by the devil. Can we still count on the goodness of God when we are almost overwhelmed by evil? Yes.

The next verse says no one can bring a charge against us before God. His Son pleads our case. No one can take eternal life from us. They can take our life and speed us to God, but they cannot take our eternal life. They can steal our earthy goods but not God’s promises. They are certain, sure, and eternal. These things He gives us freely no matter what happens to us.

Dear Father, Help me trust your ever secure care. Amen.

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Whose Definition of Good?

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

I think this is one of the most flippantly used verses in Scripture. A friend loses their job or their house burns down and we quote this verse. They lose a loved one and we quote this verse. We too often interpret it that God will make what WE want to be good come out of something that is very bad. That is not what it says.

We exist for God’s glory, not Him for ours. God wants to be continuously transforming us into His likeness. That is good, and while it might surprise us; that is the good God most wants in our lives. His “good” may not be the new house or job that we want. His good is that which will help us know Him better, trust Him more, and reveal His glory to others. That good will always be good for us; we just don’t always see that far ahead.

Dear Father, Help me to trust each day in your definition of good. Amen.

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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. 

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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

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. 

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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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