Read: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

Relate: My dad used to have a quote he like to pull out all the time: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Chew on that for a bit. The most important thing we can do is make sure that the things that are most important remain at the forefront of our lives. That’s my explanation… but he said it better.

React: Look back up at the verse for today. Jesus, God, came from heaven to earth to be our Savior. He revealed his kindness and love to us by taking upon Himself our sins when He died on the cross. He saved us. I had to pause for a minute after writing those last three words. He saved us. It wasn’t because of anything we have done. We are so unworthy. But in His mercy, through His blood, He has made us clean. We are forgiven. We are born again. When Jesus ascended into heaven He sent the Holy Spirit who now dwells in those who have accepted this free gift of grace. We are now declared righteous. We have been justified and because of His grace we have confidence that we will live forever with Him.

That is the story of the redeemed. It is my story. Is it yours? I’ve been writing on The River Walk for a little over a year now. I’m closing in close to three hundred posts. By the grace of God, we will be here together for dozens of years and thousands of posts to come. But in all that time, through all the topics and with all the illustrations and stories that will come there will never be a greater story than the truth of the grace of God. If you have never had a personal encounter with the amazing grace of our awesome God, why not do so today? He is as close as your surrender.

Respond: 

Jesus, I come before You humbled. I know that I am a sinner so undeserving of Your grace. I have wasted my life trying to do things my own way and I have failed. Time and time again I have failed. I’m tired of living in rebellion to You. Even though I am so undeserving, You came and lived and died to take away my sin. There are no words to say how grateful I am for this free gift and I accept it. God I accept. Help me now to go from this place living in the freedom You have purchased for me. I surrender that You might live in me and through me. Here is my life, Lord. It’s Yours.