WEEKLY DEVOTION Ready for Judgment Day?

— “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Acts 11:22-23

It was only by the grace of God that, when the Gospel was preached to the Greek-speaking people of Antioch, many turned from their sinful ways to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and life eternal.

Of course, it is only by the gracious operation and working of God’s Spirit through the Word that we have been brought to know and believe that in Christ Jesus we have a Savior, that in Him we have forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting.

It is as the Gospel of John states of Christ Jesus: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (1:10-13).

Jesus also said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

When the Word of God was preached in Antioch, God’s Spirit, working through that Word, called people to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. When Barnabas came, he continued to preach the word and to exhort the believers there (where they were first called Christians) to “with purpose of heart … cleave unto the Lord.” He encouraged the believers there to hold fast to Jesus because only in Him did they have forgiveness and life. He is the only way, the only truth, the only life (John 14:6). There is salvation in no other (Acts 4:12).

We who believe today do so as a result of the grace and mercy of God — the gracious working of God’s Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1-2). And, as Barnabas (and later Paul) taught the Christians the Word of the Lord and encouraged them to intentionally and purposefully hold fast to Christ Jesus, so I encourage you to cleave unto the Lord — to continue trusting in Him alone for forgiveness and life everlasting.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Continue in Christ Jesus!

O dearest Jesus, graciously grant that I cleave to You, trusting in You, and Your blood shed upon the cross, for forgiveness, life and eternal salvation. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll.

Scripture from the King James

Version of the Bible]