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)
Read: Jeremiah 51:54 – 52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19
Relate: Just a few days back would have been my dad’s sixty-fourth birthday. It is hard to believe that it was election day twenty-two years ago that he graduated into heaven. It is a little depressing for me, every time I look in the mirror to realize that I have less hair than my dad had at my age. Pretty soon I won’t be able to say that anymore. By this time next year I will be older than he ever was in this life.
It is also a little depressing at times when I realize how far the apple fell from the tree. In some ways I am just like him, but in many others I am not. He was more of a social bug. I’m an introvert. He was always smiling. I tend to brood. One big difference was that while I love the details, he lived by the maxim, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard this bit of wisdom from him. So, in honor of dad, today I am just going to go back to the main thing…
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 the 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 three years now. I am sitting on about nine hundred posts with more than a third of a million views. By the grace of God, we will be here together for dozens of years and thousands of posts to come. 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:
Dear 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 surrender to You. Help me now to go from this place living in the freedom You have purchased for me. I lay down my all that You might live in me and through me. Here is my life, Lord. It’s Yours.
Amen
THE RIVER WALK 
I remember when I prayed the surrender prayer. God showed up and my life changed forever. 😊🙏
Thanks for keeping it real! To many more years of reading your insights granted by God!
I’ve been extremely blessed (and challenged) by reading your blog. I have no doubt your dad is proud that the “main thing” you continue to do is point people to the grace and mercy of Jesus. I know grief lingers and hits when we least expect it, but I hope and pray that today, you have an abundance of joyful memories of your dad.
What a touching and motivational post. With your positive attitude, you project and it is sure to be an inspiration to others as well! Blessings,
Had to be hard thing to go through. You were both so young. 😓
My Utmost For His Highest was on the same topic today.
http://utmost.org/justification-by-faith/
I just love it when my daily readings tie together! It doesn’t happen often but when it does…it sure is sweet!
I love your truth and prayers. Keep moving forward
Yes, Jesus and his redeeming love are the main thing.
Amen, Thank you.
Amen, Beejai.
This post says it all.
-Alan
Finally had the time to read it all, thank you for being you, I am certain your dad would have it no other way! Besides, it was planned long before you ever showed on the scene.
There’s a song that ends, “..and when I think about what Jesus has done for me, I’ll praise His name, oh yes I will, for dying for me.” Blessing on you.
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
If you have not experienced God’s forgiveness of your sins, ask Him.
If you have, praise God and pass it on.
Hi BJ, clearly God has blessed this ministry He has given you with this blog. That’s not a little thing. This post originally published back in 2015, again in 2016 and now it is 2019. The original numbers you quoted have increased by many I am sure. Time moves by so quickly and yet the words you write still carry such meaning and touch so many hearts. I see the infrequency and of course I have no idea why, I know that you are real and I know that you are walking with Jesus, like so many of us strive to do. Your message is always the same, the grace we have been given, the cost of that grace and the reality of what happens next. Just want to reach out across the miles and thank you for doing what you do and ask God to continue to grant you grace, His peace and many blessings. This is just a small sliver of your story and our story and there are many who are thankful that you still do.