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Refreshing

Daily
in Gods Word
Emphasis on

Salvation

cknowledge that you are a sinner.


Romans 3:10,11
Isaiah 53:6

elieve that Jesus died for you;


trust Him to save you.
Romans 5:8
Acts 16:31
John 3:18
John 3:36

onfess Him before men to show


that you trust Him.
Romans 10:14

Easy Bake
June 1
Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
Key Verse: Verse 8- For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God:
Key Words: For by grace are ye saved through

faith

I dont know of any Scripture that makes salvation any


clearer than Ephesians 2:8-9.
I read about an instant cake mix that was a big flop.
The instructions said all you had to do was add water and
bake. The company couldnt understand why it didnt sell
until their research discovered that the buying public felt
uneasy about a mix that required only water. People thought
it was too easy. So the company altered the formula and
changed the recipe to call for adding water and an egg to the
mix. The idea worked, and sales jumped dramatically.
That story reminds me of how some people react to the
plan of salvation. To them it sounds too easy and simple to be
true, even though the Bible says, By grace you have been
saved through faith, . . . it is the gift of God, not of works
(Ephesians 2:8-9). They feel that there is something more
they must do, something they must add to Gods recipe for
salvation. They think they must perform good works to gain
Gods favor and earn eternal life. But the Bible is clearwe
are saved not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy (Titus 3:5). God saved you by His
special favor when you believed. And you cant take credit for
this; it is a gift of God. Salvation is not a reward for the good
things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Unlike the cake-mix manufacturer, God has not
changed His formula to make salvation more marketable.
The Gospel we proclaim must be free of works, even though it
may sound too easy.

What to do:
Accept Jesus as your Savior by faith not of
works.
****************************************

Terms of Salvation
June 2
Bible Reading: Romans 3:24-31
Key Verse: Verse 24 - Being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Key Words: Being justified freely
There are some who battle with salvation being free.
They feel as though there has to be some effort on their part.
They cannot grasp that salvation is a free gift of God to all who
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
This reminds me of a banker who was talking to one of
his Christian clients about salvation.
The banker said, Do you mean to say that, without my
paying a cent or making any recompense, I can expect God to
have mercy on me? Do you say I can be saved merely by
trusting Jesus Christ? How absurd! If I am to be saved, I
must accomplish it by my own efforts.
Well, the Christian said, suppose someone should
come to you in great need and want to borrow some money.
Who would have the right to make the terms and conditions
on which the money would be loaned, you or the borrower?
Why, I would, of course. He would have to meet my
conditions before he could get the money, said the banker.
Exactly, and this is your position. You are the poor,
lost, sinner and God is the banker. So who has the right to
make the terms and conditions on which you can come to
Him you or Him?
Salvation doesnt come through our terms, but the
Lords.

What to do:
You must accept salvation on Gods terms not
yours!
****************************************

Thats Salvation

June 3

Bible Reading: Acts 4:1-12


Key Verse: Verse 12 - Neither is there salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Key Words: whereby we must be saved

As you read our Scripture reading for today, its clear


that Peter is speaking about Jesus Christ (see verse 10). It is
Jesus through Whom we have salvation.
Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write
a poem on it, and make it worth six thousand dollars. Thats
genius.
Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and
make it worth millions. Thats capital.
Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and
make it worth dollars. Thats money.
A craftsman can take material thats worth only five
dollars and make an article worth fifty dollars. Thats skill.
An artist can take a fifty cent piece of canvas, paint a
picture on it, and make it worth a thousand dollars. Thats
art.
But God and only God can take a life, sinful and
without joy, wash it in the Blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it,
and make it a blessing to humanity. Thats salvation!
Have you been to Jesus for His cleansing power? Are
you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

What to do:
Come to Jesusfor there is no salvation except
through Him!

A Marked Down Salvation


June 4
Bible Reading: Titus 3
Key Verse: Verse 5 - Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Key Words: Not by works of righteousness which

we have done

We cheapen salvation when we believe that our


righteous works save our soul. Works for salvation is what I
call a marked down salvation.
Charles Swindoll writes: One of the largest
department stores in our nation took on a commercial venture
that proved to be disastrously unsuccessful. It was a doll in
the form of the baby Jesus. It was advertised as being
unbreakable, washable, and cuddly. It was packaged in straw
with a satin crib and surroundings, and appropriate Biblical
texts added here and there to make the scene complete.
It did not sell. The manager of one of the stores in the
department chain panicked.
He carried a last-ditch
promotion to get rid of those dolls. He brandished a huge
sign outside his store that read:
JESUS CHRIST
MARKED DOWN 50%
GET HIM WHILE YOU CAN
Im afraid today that many in our nation and even in
our churches have a marked down salvation which in truth
is not salvation at all.

What to do:
Remember, salvation is free but its not cheap it
cost Jesus His life.

Salvation Now
June 5
Bible Reading: II Corinthians 6:1-10
Key Verse: Verse 2 - (For he saith, I have heard thee
in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Key Words: now is the day of salvation
Have you ever had something you just knew you
should do, but for whatever reason you just didnt do it, only
to be sorry later for your procrastination?
Many today know they are lost and are procrastinating
in accepting Jesus as their Savior. It reminds me of an
illustration I use on occasion.
The devil and his cohorts were devising plans to get
people to reject the Gospel. "Let's go to them and say there is
no God," proposed one. Silence prevailed. Every devil knew
that most people believe in a supreme being. "Let's tell them
there is no hell, no future punishment for the wicked," offered
another. That was turned down, because men obviously have
consciences which tell them that sin must be punished. The
concave was going to end in failure when there came a voice
from the rear: "Tell them there is a God, there is a hell and
that the Bible is the Word of God. But tell them there is
plenty of time to decide the question. Let them 'neglect' the
Gospel, until it is too late." All hell erupted with ghoulish glee,
for they knew that if a person procrastinated on Christ, they
usually never accept Him.
How true!

What to do:
Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of
salvation.

Delivered
June 6
Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-8
Key Verse: Verse 8 - But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.
Key Words: Christ died for us
In October of 1987, a little girl named Jessica McClure
fell down an abandoned well shaft. The shaft was eight inches
in diameter and twenty-two feet deep. She was lost to her
parents with no way on her own to get out. She was trapped.
In this little town of Midland, Texas, she became the focus of
the whole nation. Every major news network focused in on
Midland, Texas, and the girl named Jessica, who was trapped
in the well.
For fifteen hours, men dug and drilled. They didnt
know initially that to get to her they would have to go through
limestone. This stone cracked the bits on the drills they were
using to make their way through the shaft. Getting to little
Jessica took a lot longer than anyone expected. After fifteen
hours or so someone was able to get down into the shaft,
untangle little Jessica, and bring her up to the top. Cameras
blazing upon the opening to the shaft caught the man bringing
Jessica up out of the shaft and into the arms of her waiting
parents. The site, filled with people hoping and praying, was
filled with joy. The rescuers were crying, the parents were
crying, and onlookers across the nation were crying because
little Jessica, who was most certainly dead, was now alive.
Little Jessica, in order to live, had to have somebody else to
save her.
Similarly, every member of the human race is trapped.
We have fallen into an abyss out of which we can never lift
ourselves. If we want to get out of this hole were in,
somebody up there has got to come down to where weve been
trapped by sin. Somebody has got to drill a hole to where we
are. Even though we try hard, the hole is too deep and we
cant climb out.

At the heart of the Gospel, thats what Jesus did. He


saw you and me in a hole. We were trying to get out with good
works, but we werent getting anywhere. But God, coming as
the person of Jesus Christ, entered the hole of our death, and
offered deliverance from above. Not only did God offer
deliverance, He also offered assurance. The same Jesus Christ
not only saves, He also assures.

What to do:
Jesus came into the hole of death so we could live in
the heavens above. Do you know Him as your Savior?
****************************************

Cost of Salvation
June 7

Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:1-7


Key Verse: Verse 7 - In whom we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace;
Key Words: the riches of his grace
If you know Jesus as Savior, then you understand the
richness of grace. Grace is God paying the price for what we
could not afford.
A man one day was low on funds and all he had was
one valuable thing to his name -- a family ring that had been
passed down for generations. He didn't want to part with the
ring that was so full of memories, but he needed the money to
survive. He took his ring off, took it to the pawn shop, and
gave it to the pawn broker. The pawn broker gave him a few
dollars for it accompanied by a ticket. On the back of the
ticket, a redemption price and date were listed.
The gentleman intended to buy his ring back but the
date rolled around quickly and he still did not have the
money. He came and pled with the pawn broker not to sell his

ring in his shop. He begged for more time but the pawn
broker would not budge from the original agreement.
The next day was the day for the ring to be sold. The
remorseful seller came by that day only to find his beautiful
ring polished and sitting in the shop window. It now cost
twenty-five times the price he sold it for.
Some of us today have pawned our lives for a pittance.
We pawned our souls and we dont have what it takes to
redeem it. But, two thousand years ago, God sent Jesus Christ
to pick up the tab for the lives we pawned. The beautiful thing
about the Lord Jesus Christ is that He can afford to pay the
price.
What to do:
Thank God today for the salvation you could never
afford.
****************************************

If in This Life Only


June 8

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 15:11-20

Key Verse: Verse 19 - If in this life only we have hope


in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Key Words: If in this life only we have hope in

Christ

While D. L. Moody was ministering in Colorado, his


only grandson, Dwight, passed away suddenly. Dwight was
only one year old at his passing. When Moody heard of his
grandsons death, he sat down and wrote the following:
I know Dwight is having a good time, and we
should rejoice with him. What would the
mansions be without children? And he has
gone to help get things ready for his parents.
You know the Master said: The last shall be
first. He was the last to come into our circle,

and he is the first to go up there! So safe, so


free from all the sorrow that we are passing
through! I do thank God for such a life. It was
nearly all smiles and sunshine.
What a
glorified body he will have, and with what joy
he will await your coming! God does not give
us such strong love for each other for a few
days or years, but it is going to last forever, and
you will have the dear little man with you for
ages and ages, and love will keep increasing.
The master had need of him, or He would
never have called him, and you should feel
highly honored that you had anything in your
home that He wanted. I could not wish him
back, if he could have all earth could give him.
And then the thought that the Savior will take
such good care of him! No going astray; no
sickness; no death. Dear, dear little fellow... . I
believe the only thing he took away from earth
was that sweet smile, and I have no doubt that
when he saw the Savior he smiled as he did
when he saw you. My heart goes up to God
often for you, and the word that keeps coming
to my mind is this: It is well with the child.
Not long after the death of little Dwight, another
grandchild died. Irene followed her baby brother to the grave,
dying two days past her fourth birthday of pneumonia. At her
funeral D. L. Moody spoke these words:
I would like to say a few words, if I can trust
myself. I have been thinking this morning
about the aged prophet waiting in the valley of
the Jordan, so many years ago, for the chariot
of God to take him home. The chariot of God
came down to the Connecticut valley yesterday
morning about half-past six, and took our little
Irene home.... Irene has finished her course.
Her work was well wrought on earth. She has
accomplished more than many in their
threescore and ten. We would not have her

back, although her voice was the sweetest voice


I ever heard on earth. She never met me once
since she was three months old, until the last
few days of pain, without a smile. But Christ
had some service for her above. My life has
been much better by her ministry here on
earth. She has made us all better.... She was
too fair for this earth. I thank God this
morning for the hope of immortality. I know I
shall see her in the morning, more beautiful in
her resurrection glory than she was here.
Which draws me to this conclusion, If in this life only
we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. I
Corinthians 15:19.
What to do:
Hope not only in this life, but the life to come.
****************************************

Salvation of Youth
June 9

Bible Reading: Matthew 19:1-15

Key Verse: Verse 14 - But Jesus said, Suffer little


children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of
such is the kingdom of heaven.
Key Words: and forbid them not

We read in Matthew 19:14, But Jesus said, Suffer little


children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is
the kingdom of heaven. The old preacher of years gone by, R.
G. Lee, writes the following.
The following statistics show us the importance of
winning souls in their youth:

Nineteen out of every twenty who ever get saved do so


before they reach the age of twenty-five.
After twenty-five, only one in 10,000.
After thirty-five, only one in 50,000.
After forty-five, only one in 200,000.
After fifty-five, only one in 300,000.
After sixty-five, only one in 500,000.
After seventy-five, only one in 700,000.
A test was made in a meeting where 4,100 were
present. The result was: 400 were saved before ten years of
age. 600 were saved between twelve and fourteen. 600 were
saved between fourteen and sixteen. 1,000 were saved
between sixteen and twenty. 25 were saved after thirty years
of age. 1,875 were unsaved.
If you are unsaved at 25 years of age, the chances
are 5,000 to one against you.
If you are 35 and still unsaved, the chances are
25,000 to one against you.
If you are 45 and still unsaved, the chances are
80,000 to one against you.
If you are 50 and still outside of Christ, the
chances are 150,000 to one against you.
If you are 75 and still unsaved, the chances are
almost the same as doomed and damned.
Moreover from the viewpoint of service, not
salvation, it is more important to win a child to faith in Christ
than to win a grown person. A boy won to faith in Christ at
ten is a Christian plus 60 years of service, according to the
three-score-and-ten span of life. A man won to faith in Christ
at 60 is a Christian plus ten years of service, according to the
70 years as the span of life. How much more is a Christian
plus 60 years of service worth to the kingdom of Christ?
Let me close by quoting II Corinthians 6:2b, Now is
the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.

What to do:
Remember, all souls are important, including
the youth.
****************************************

The Only Way


June 10

Bible Reading: John 14:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I am the


way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Key Words: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way
Jesus did not say, I am A way. He said, I am THE

way.
Donald Grey Barnhouse writes: Many European
towns still bear the marks of walls that surrounded them in
the Middle Ages. Streets near these old walls are curved and
sometimes wind up in a dead end. A man asked a stranger
how to reach a certain address. When the stranger directed
him, the inquirer was still a little dubious. Is that the best
way? he asked. The stranger answered, It is the only way. If
you follow the other turning it will bring you back here.
That is a great illustration of the way to God. Go
through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Is that the
best way? someone might ask. The only answer to that is the
truth: It is the only way. Any other turning will take you
not back to where you are, but off into outer darkness of
separation from God.

What to do:
Answer honestlyare you truly on your way to
Heaven? Youre not if you plan to go any way other
than through Jesus Christ.

Salvation is on Level Ground


June 11

Bible Reading: II Peter 3:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 9 - The Lord is not slack concerning


his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Key Words: that all should come to repentance

When Charles Evans Hughes was appointed Chief


Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, he moved
to Washington and transferred his letter to a Baptist church
there. His father had been a Baptist minister, and Hughes
had been a lifelong witness to his own faith in Christ.
It was the custom in that Baptist church to have all
new members come forward during the morning service and
be introduced to the congregation.
On this particular day the first to be called was a
Chinese laundryman, Ah Sing, who had moved to Washington
from San Francisco and kept a laundry near the church. He
stood at the far side of the pulpit. As others were called, they
took positions at the extreme opposite side. When a dozen
people had gathered, Ah Sing still stood alone.
Then Chief Justice Hughes was called, and he took his
place next to the laundryman. When the minister had
welcomed the group into the church fellowship, he said, I do
not want this congregation to miss the remarkable illustration
of the fact that at the cross of Jesus Christ the ground is level.
Mr. Hughes behaved like a true Christian. He took his place
beside the laundryman, and by his act he prevented
embarrassment to the humble Chinese; he showed, too, the
love of Christ he had this gift of standing by.
So often people hate Christianity because they do not
want to stand on a level with others. Spiritual pride takes a
terrible toll among those who are vindictive in their hatred of
true Christianity; it is because they have no respect of persons,
race, family, wealth, culture, social position, character or
morals. Men stand level in their condition before God, and
God stands ready to meet the universal need. Let every one of

us who has named the name of Jesus Christ understand that


we are to take our places quietly beside those in need.

What to do:
Remember that our skin may vary in color, not the
soul.
****************************************

Whosoever
June 12

Bible Reading: Revelation 22:1-17


Key Verse: Verse 17 And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And
let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let
him take the water of life freely.
Key Words: whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely
I once read where Mr. R. DeHaan decided to count the
number of times the word whosoever appears in the Bible.
Using a concordance, he came up with 179 references. He
said he was blessed to find that when the term applies to
salvation, it always means anyone without exception. Mr.
DeHaan pointed out these important facts about the word: It
crosses all lines and man-made divisions. It does not put up
barriers between good or bad, rich or poor, black or white,
religious or irreligious. I would be concerned that I might be
one of those who was excluded. Another thing that makes me
happy is that no price is attached to this offer of salvation.
The Spirit says, ...whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely... .
The famous preacher John Bunyan, author of
Pilgrims Progress, declared: Had the Lord written, If John
Bunyan will come to Me, I will save him, I would have
hesitated. Its another John Bunyan who lived hundreds of
years ago or some John Bunyan who will live hundreds of

years hence. To be sure, it cannot be me, this poor, miserable


sinner. But when God says WHOSOEVER, that takes in
THIS John Bunyan!
Dear reader, if you desire to be saved, hesitate no
longer. Receive Christ TODAY! The Holy Spirit used the
word whosoever to assure you as a seeking sinner that you
are welcome. It means YOU even more surely than if a name
identical to your own were found in Revelation 22:17.

What to do:
Today become a whosoever who will accept Jesus
as Savior.
****************************************

Redemption
June 13

Bible Reading: Psalm 130

Key Verse: Verse 7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for


with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is
plenteous redemption.
Key Words: and with him is plenteous redemption

The word redemption means to make friends again, to


purchase back. So when God redeems us through the blood of
Jesus Christ, its through His Son we are made friends again
with God.
When the slave trade was thriving in West Africa,
mercenaries would penetrate the interior to capture hundreds
of natives. They would then clamp iron collars around their
necks to keep them in check until they arrived back at the
coast for shipment.
As the captives passed through other African villages
on their way to the sea, a local chief or king would sometimes
recognize a friend or relative. If he were financially able, and
of a mind to, he could redeem his friend through payment of
gold, silver, brass, or ivory. Out of this practice grew a slang

word among the Bambara tribe of French West Africa which


meant, take his head out of the iron collar.
According to Eugene Nida in his book, Gods Word in
Mans Language, when the Bible was translated in the dialect
of the Bambaras, a common word was sought for the abstract
idea of redemption. The translator seized on the well-known
phrase, God took our heads out to substitute for the word
redeem. So when the Bambara tribesmen read of Gods
redemption, they get the image of God sending His Son as
payment to take our heads out of the collar of sin and death.
Amen and amen!

What to do:
Have you been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb?
If not, do so today!
****************************************

Assurance of Salvation,
Part One

June 14

Bible Reading: I John 5


Key Verse: Verse 13 These things have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Key Words: that ye may know
Dr. Charles E. Fuller once announced that he would be
speaking the following Sunday on "Heaven." During that week
a beautiful letter was received from an old gentleman who was
very ill.
"Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I am
interested in that land, because I have held a clear title to a bit
of property there for over fifty-five years. I did not buy it. It

was given to me without money and without price. But the


Donor purchased it for me at tremendous sacrifice. I am not
holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable. It
is not a vacant lot.
"For more than half a century I have been sending
materials out of which the greatest Architect and Builder of
the Universe has been building a home for me which will
never need to be remodeled nor repaired because it will suit
me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old.
"Termites can never undermine its foundations for
they rest on the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods
cannot wash it away. No locks nor bolts will ever be placed
upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land
where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and almost
ready for me to enter in and abide in peace eternally, without
fear of being ejected.
"There is a valley of deep shadow between where I live
and the place of which I shall journey in a very short time. I
cannot hope to reach my home in that City of Gold without
passing through this dark valley of shadows. But I am not
afraid because the best Friend I ever had went through the
same valley long, long ago and drove away all its gloom. He
has stuck by me through thick and thin, since we first became
acquainted fifty-five years ago, and I hold His promise in
printed form, never to forsake me or leave me alone. He will
be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall
not lose my way when He is with me.
"I hope to hear your sermon on Heaven next Sunday
from my home here, but I have no assurance that I shall be
able to do so. My ticket to Heaven has no date marked for the
journey, no return coupon, and no permit or values. Yes, I am
all ready to go and I may not be here while you are talking
next Sunday evening, but I shall meet you in Heaven some
day."
All I can say is, Amen, and blessed assurance, Jesus is
mine!

What to do:
Make sure that you know Jesus as Savior.

Assurance of Salvation,
Part Two

June 15

Bible Reading: John 5:17-24

Key Verse: Verse 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you,


He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that
sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Key Words: hath everlasting life

One day, a lady got on a train. Now, there were lots of


trains at the station, but she had asked someone about which
train was the correct train for her to get where she wanted to
go. They told her which train and she followed their direction.
She got on the train but she was nervous. She still wasnt
completely sure that she was on the right train. She sat down
with the train getting ready to pull off, wondering if she was
on the right one. She didnt want to go the wrong way.
Wanting to be certain that she was where she needed to be,
she turned to the lady sitting next to her and said, Excuse
me, miss, is this the right train to St. Louis? She said, Yep!
Youre on the right train. So the lady went and sat down, but
then started thinking that maybe the woman whom she had
asked was on the wrong train too. She decided to check with
somebody else. She turned to the man beside her, Sir, is this
the train to St. Louis? Yes maam, this is the train to St.
Louis.
She felt a little better but that man didnt look too
smart. So the lady again found herself feeling uncertain, and
without question, she didnt want to take a risk of being on the
wrong train. At just that moment, the conductor came
through. The lady said, Sir, Im going to St. Louis; am I on
the right train? He said, Yes maam, youre on the right
train to St. Louis. I will take you there as I am running the
engine. The lady lay back and went to sleep.
Hearing from the person next to her is nice, but it isnt
enough. Hearing from the nice man behind you is nice, but
its not enough. Hearing the pastor say, I think youre a
Christian is nice, but thats not enough. But when the

conductor comes through, the one who is driving the train,


thats enough!
Sometimes you are going to check your feelings and
youll feel saved, but thats not enough. Some days you are
going to be living right but when something happens thats
not enough. But when Jesus says, I guarantee you eternal
life because you have placed your total faith in My finished
work, brothers and sisters, thats enough because Hes
driving the train.

What to do:
Make sure you have everlasting life.
****************************************

Too Proud to Be Saved


June 16

Bible Reading: Romans 6:16-23

Key Verse: Verse 23 For the wages of sin is death;


but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Key Words: but the gift of God

Romans 6:23 is one of the more familiar verses in the


Bible, but its still as powerful and convicting as it was years
ago. I often wonder why there are those who reject the
greatest of all gifts, eternal life.
Apparently too proud to accept neighbors' help, an
elderly couple died from starvation, exposure, and
pneumonia, according to the Associated Press. Opinion on
the causes of the deaths was given by Medical Examiner
Thomas F. Corriden at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital, at
Northampton, Massachusetts. The couple was taken to the
hospital from their home in nearby West Cummington where
a neighbor said she had been turned away from the door by
the husband when she offered assistance. Neighbors finally

gained admission to the home and found the man and wife
unconscious.
Too proud to accept the Gift is the reason numbers of
persons are on perishing ground today, in a spiritual sense.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Gods unspeakable Gift. Eternal
life is a free gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans
6:23). Salvation is a gift of God To be too proud to accept
such gifts from such a Giver will mean to perish in a deeper
sense than starvation.
What a shame! What a tragedy!

What to do:
Remember, pride can get you into hell; but it cant
get you out.
****************************************

Salvation and Works


June 17

Bible Reading: James 2:14-26

Key Verse: Verse 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou


hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by
my works.
Key Words: I will shew thee my faith by my

works.

Over the years the debate has raged on as to whether


we are saved by works or by faith. My answer is that faith
alone saves but a faith that saves will never be alone. We are
saved by faith and then the works follow.
Let me explain it this way.
"One year at Christmastime, my wife wanted some
wrapped boxes to use for decoration. She took eight empty
boxes and had them wrapped to use as a decoration at our
front door. Those boxes sat in front of our house, impeccably

wrapped, topped with bows, and empty. I didnt worry at all


about a thief coming and stealing any of those wrapped boxes
on the outside of our house. There wasnt anything in there!
A lot of folks are well wrapped but theres nothing
going on in the inside. Unfortunately today, many people
dont want to be truly blessed; they just want to be well
wrapped. True, authentic Christian living starts on the inside
and the evidence of that life works its way out.
~ Tony Evans
Faith alone saves, but a faith that saves will always
work its way out.

What to do:
Work, not to be saved, but because you are saved.
****************************************

The Holy Spirit and


Regeneration

June 18

Bible Reading: Job 33:1-11


Key Verse: Verse 4 The Spirit of God hath made
me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me
life.
Key Words: The Spirit of God hath made me
We read in John 3 that Nicodemus came one night to
talk with Jesus. After Nicodemus opened the conversation
with complimentary words to Jesus, the Lord shocked
Nicodemus when he said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God (John 3:3). Nicodemus was mystified and raised the
question, How? In response Jesus replied, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). He

continued by saying, That which is born of the flesh is flesh;


and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6).
Then, in verse 8, He said, ...so is everyone that is born of the
Spirit.
There it is Spirit-born. What does Jesus mean by
born of the Spirit? The term born of God is used in other
Bible verses. Notice that born of God and born of the
Spirit are both used. This is an incidental proof that the Holy
Spirit is God.
Jesus also used the term born again. The word
again could be translated from above. To be Spirit-born is
to experience a heavenly birth. In one sense, the Holy Spirit is
the agent of our physical birth. Job 33:4 says, The Spirit of
God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given
me life. This corresponds to the creation of man in Genesis
2:7. As the Spirit of life blows, biological conception occurs.
What a humbling thought! When you were conceived in your
mothers womb, the Holy Spirit was there. (This is beautifully
presented in Psalm 139. The language is astonishingly
consistent with what modern science tells us about the
conception and development of the human embryo.)
But in an even more special sense, the Holy Spirit is
responsible for our being born again, born of God,
regenerated.
Have you been Spirit-born? Is there a time in your life
when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not, today
is the day of salvation.

What to do:
Have you been born of God, regenerated? If not,
why not today? If not today, when? And will when
be too late?

Salvation and the Lucky Hat


June 19

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:21-29

Key Verse: Verse 21 Not every one that saith unto


me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven.
Key Words: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven

Ben Wofford caught a bass worth $21,786 on Saturday


April 11, 1992, at the Texas Bass Championship Tournament
on Lake Conroe. His 7.64 pound fish was the fourth largest
fish overall but according to Rule Number 6, Ben's fish didn't
qualify. The fish was fine but Ben wasn't. Rule 6 clearly
stated all contestants must wear the official tournament hat
they were issued at check-in. Ben opted instead to wear his
"lucky" cap and left the tournament headgear in his partner's
truck. Because of Ben's small error he was denied any prize
money.
The Bible says put on the helmet of salvation for it
identifies you with Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord - you
must wear His hat. Unfortunately, though many feel their
"lucky" cap is a better option and they end up forfeiting the
greatest prize of all - eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.

What to do:
Throw away your lucky hat and accept Jesus as
your Savior.

Living Water
June 20

Bible Reading: John 4:1-14

Key Verse: Verse 14 But whosoever drinketh of the


water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the
water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life.
Key Words: water springing up into everlasting

life

The world today is dying of thirst so rather than


turning to Jesus for living water they turn to the world
which can never quench their thirst.
During the days of sailing merchant ships, one such
vessel becalmed off the coast of South America. Weeks went
by without the slightest movement of wind. The ship was
helpless and couldnt move. The sailors were dying of thirst,
when another ship drifted close enough to read their frantic
signs for help. Let down your buckets, was the reply. They
then found water suitable for drinking right beneath their
keel. Although adrift at sea, they were surrounded by the
fresh water current that came from the mighty Amazon River.
All they had to do was reach for it. People dont need to thirst
for true life because we are surrounded by Jesus offer of
Living Water.
Today, I would hope that some who are reading this
devotion will be like the Samaritan woman and say, Give me
this water that I thirst not (John 14:15b).

What to do:
Accept the Living Water of Jesus Christ and quench
your spiritual thirst.

Body of Death
June 21

Bible Reading: Romans 7:18-25


Key Verse: Verse 24 O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Key Words: the body of this death
I fail often so I understand what Paul means when he
says, O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from
the body of this death? But then praise God for verse 25, I
thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin places a "body of death" upon us (Romans 7:24).
This term to which Paul alludes is descriptive of a horrible
execution that was employed by the Romans. A cadaver
would be fastened to the condemned person so that he could
not be released from the corpse. Every move he made was
accompanied by the deceased. The rotting flesh of this
cadaver would spawn disease and infection upon the
condemned individual. Eventually he would die a slow,
painful, and emotionally horrifying death. Every person has
been attached to the decaying carcass of sin (Romans 3:23).
Its end result is death (Romans 6:23a), but God has provided
an escape to everlasting life through his Son Jesus Christ
(Romans 6:23b).
What to do:
Have you escaped the death trap by accepting
Jesus as your Savior?

Atonement
June 22

Bible Reading: Romans 5:9-21


Key Verse: Verse 11 And not only so, but we also
joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
we have now received the atonement.
Key Words: we have now received the atonement
The word atonement means reparation or the price
paid for our sins.
Our works do not atone for our sins.
Our baptism does not atone for our sins.
Our kind deeds do not atone for our sins.
Only the blood of Jesus can do that! Because of Jesus
atonement, we now can have everlasting life and victory over
death.
Dr. Claude Barlow was a medical missionary to
Shaohsing, China, in the early part of this century. During his
ministry there a strange disease began killing people and he
couldnt find a remedy. In search of a cure, he filled his
notebook with observations of the symptoms he had
witnessed in hundreds of cases. Then, with a small vial of the
germs, he sailed for the United States. Just before he arrived,
he injected himself with the deadly germs and hurried to his
alma mater, Johns Hopkins University Hospital. He had
become very sick and now depended on his former professors
to find a cure for the disease. They did, and as a result
hundreds of lives were saved, including Dr. Barlows.
He was sent back to China with a cure for this dreaded
disease. In the process, a multitude of lives was spared. In
the midst of our epidemic called sin, Jesus went to the cross
and injected himself with our deadly disease. He then
committed Himself to the Fathers care and returned on
Easter morning with the cure. Praise God! Death is no longer
our destiny!
What to do:
Only Jesus can save you from your sin.

What Do Men Say?


June 23

Bible Reading: Mark 8:27-38

Key Verse: Verse 27 And Jesus went out, and his


disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by
the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them,
Whom do men say that I am?
Key Words: Whom do men say that I am?

Some said of Jesus that He was John the Baptist,


others Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets; but Peter
correctly answered when he said, Thou art the Christ (verse
29).
Christ is not a name, it is a title. It means one
anointed by God. Jesus was and is the Christ, the One
anointed by God to deliver men from the bondage of sin.
Read what others have said of Christ.
I believe that Christ died for me because it
is incredible; I believe that He rose from the
dead because it is impossible."
~ A. W.
Tozer
Christ is the central figure in Biblical
revelation. The cross is the central factor in
Biblical revelation. ~ Dan DeHaan
Jesus Christ: the meeting place of eternity
and time, the blending of deity and
humanity, the junction of heaven and
earth. ~ Anonymous
Jesus is God spelling Himself out in
language that man can understand.
~ S. D. Gordon
Most men are notable for one conspicuous
virtue or grace. Moses for meekness. Job
for patience. John for love. But in Jesus
you find everything.
~ J. Oswald Sanders

He stands absolutely alone in history; in


teaching, in example, in character, an
exception, a marvel, and He is Himself the
evidence of Christianity.
~ A. T. Pierson
He authenticates Himself.
~ Bishop
Clark
He comes forth from the carpenters shop,
where like all other well-trained Hebrew
youth, He had learned His fathers trade,
and His first public utterance is the most
original and revolutionary address on
practical morals which the world ever
heard. ~ A. T. Pierson
No other God have I but Thee; born in a
manger, died on a tree.
~ Martin Luther
But the real question isWho do you say Jesus is?

What to do:
How you answer the question, Who is Jesus? has
everything to do with where you will spend eternity.
****************************************

Taint Coupled Onto Anything


June 24

Bible Reading: Romans 10:1-14


Key Verse: Verse 13 For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Key Words: For whosoever shall call upon the

name of the Lord shall be saved.

The following is taken from an old Heart and Life


magazine article from way back who knows when.
Two travelers, who fancied they were abundantly able
to take care of themselves, entered a railway carriage when
the train was being made up and found comfortable seats.
They had dropped into conversation, when a porter looked in
and told them to go to another coach. What is the
matter with this coach? they asked. Nothing, he grinned,
only taint coupled onto anything thatll take you anywhere.
That is the trouble with many beautiful creeds, and
theories they sound well, but they do not take you
anywhere. The soul that would journey heavenward must
make sure of the coupling.
That is it: Whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved.
Are you coupled to Jesus?

What to do:
Make sure you are coupled to the right God.
****************************************

Seeking to Save

June 25

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 10 For the Son of man is come to


seek and to save that which was lost.
Key Words: seek and to save

Its amazing to me that Jesus not only saves but seeks


to save. Jesus traveled through cities, wilderness, and slums
seeking to save!! Now thats love!!
In one of J. Wilbur Chapman's meetings a man gave
the following testimony: "I got off at the Pennsylvania Depot
one day as a tramp, and for a year I begged on the streets for a
living. One day I touched a man on the shoulder and said,
Mister, please give me a dime. As soon as I saw his face, I

recognized my father. Father, dont you know me? I asked.


Throwing his arms around me, he cried, I have found you; all
I have is yours. Men, think of it, that I as a tramp, stood
begging my father for ten cents, when for eighteen years he
had been looking for me, to give me all he was worth.
Today, dear friend, Jesus is seeking you!!

What to do:
Let God take your messed up life and make you
whole.
****************************************

Paid in Full
June 26

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12


Key Verse: Verse 5 But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with
his stripes we are healed.
Key Words: we are healed
Nicolas II, czar of Russia, had the habit of disguising
himself and visiting his military outposts for the purpose of
evaluating them. In one of his outposts was a young man
whose father had enlisted him in the military with the hope of
putting some discipline and direction into his life. However,
army life served as fuel that fed the fires of the wild life he
lived.
One of this young soldiers weaknesses was gambling.
It so happened that he was also the bookkeeper at his
particular outpost. As his gambling debts grew, he found it
necessary to pilfer some of the outposts funds to pay his
debts. Instead of hitting it rich, however, he continued to go
deeper into debt to the outposts treasury.
One night he decided to add up all the debts and see
how much he owed. When he saw the immense debt, he

decided to commit suicide. He took out his gun and wrote


across the ledger, So great a debt. Who can pay? As he
contemplated suicide, he dozed off to sleep.
Czar Nicolas II was inspecting the outpost that night,
disguised as an officer of low rank. Seeing a light burning in
the bookkeepers shack, he went to investigate.
Inside the shack he saw the man with the gun in his
lap and the writing on the ledger. Immediately he understood
the situation.
When the soldier awoke from his sleep, he put the gun
to his head. For a moment, he stared at the ledger and read
these words, So great a debt. Who can pay? underneath
those words were these, Paid in full, Czar Nicolas II!
When it comes to the price of your sins, the price has
been paid in full. All you have to do is accept it.

What to do:
Remember, Christ came to pay a debt He did not
owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay.
****************************************

Death and Salvation


June 27

Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:19-28


men

Key Verse: Verse 27 - And as it is appointed unto


once to die, but after this the judgment:
Key Words: once to die

If God tarries His coming, you are going to dieI am


going to die. We are all bound for death. The question is not
are we going to die? The question is are you ready to die?
Death today can look fairly nice. The folks down at the
funeral home know how to get us looking fairly good when we
are dead. The funeral parlors have professional makeup
artists who dress you up and make you look good. Ive seen

some people look better dead than they ever looked alive. But
theyre still dead.
Dead people used to be put into crude wooden boxes
and carried around in horse-drawn carriages. You dont die
like that today. Nowadays when you die, you die in style.
Were talking bronze caskets lined with linen. If you die
before youve had a chance to put your head on a satin pillow,
no worries. Nows your chance. Always wanted to ride in a
limousine? Youve got it a fleet, in fact. You will stop traffic
that day. People will pull over just because you are riding by.
But youre still dead.
Back in the day, the coffin would be lowered into the
ground by ropes tied around the top and the bottom of the
casket. Today, there are no ropes; a nickel-plated machine
eases you down. They dont want to wake you up so you get
put six feet under in the most comfortable way possible. But
youre still dead.
Whether its a coffin or a casket, a limousine, or a
horse-drawn carriage, a nickel-plated machine or a rope, you
are still dead. A fancy death doesnt change that reality.
What death should do is promote the idea of not
wasting time in life. The older you get, there should be certain
things you dont have time for because you realize that you are
losing time every day. You cant waste it.
You are going to die and after that the judgement.
Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, you are not
ready to die.

What to do:
Accept Jesus by faith today.

Life Is Short
June 28

Bible Reading: Job 14:1-12


Key Verse: Verse 1 - Man that is born of a woman is
of few days, and full of trouble.

Key Words: Man that is born of a woman is of few


days
There are numerous verses in the Bible that tell us
about the brevity of life.
Job 7:6a, My days are swifter than a weavers
shuttle.
Psalm 144:4b, His days are as a shadow.
James 4:14, For what is your life? It is even as a
vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away.
Stick your finger in a glass of water, pull it out, and see
what kind of dent you leave behind. The spot where you
placed your finger will quickly fill in. While you may make an
impression for a moment, as soon as you are off the scene,
that place is going to fill right in.
This is what our lives are like. We are here on this
earth for a moment. The impression we make in time is only
but for a moment and then time will quickly fill in as we pass
on into eternity.
Life is short. That is the reason that we should never
delay in accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior so we can live
most of our days serving Him.

What to do:
Remember, life is short.

Grateful for Salvation


June 29

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 8:1-10


Key Verse: Verse 10 - When thou hast eaten and art
full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the
good land which he hath given thee.
Key Words: bless the LORD thy God for the good

land which he hath given thee

The Lord has given us so much for which to be


grateful, and the greatest of these gifts is our salvation.
There are many parents who have ungrateful children.
It is very frustrating. Parents spend so much time working to
provide for their children and to give to them so much at no
cost to those children. Free food, free housing, free clothes,
free spending money, free tennis shoes, and free gas.
Thinking about it will make a mom or dad mad! Parents do
all this because they love them. However, most kids dont
recognize or appreciate the free gifts, they only see the
restrictions and want to complain.
How come I cant go? How come I cant stay out
later? How come I cant have it?
Anyone who understands the peril of living with an
ungrateful teenager understands how God feels about His own
ungrateful kids. God gives good things day after day, week
after week, month after month, year after year, and His
children miss His goodness and His grace.
Today, we all need to just take time to thank God and
show Him our gratefulness for salvation given to us through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

What to do:
Be grateful for your salvation.

To Save a Nation
June 30

Bible Reading: Proverbs 14:25-35


Key Verse: Verse 34 Righteousness exalteth a
nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Key Words: Righteousness exalteth a nation
Now, lets see if Ive got this right. In the last 7 years
under President Obama and his administration, we have seen:
1) Our military cut by 71%.
2) Our economy is now in the red by $13-17 trillion
(depending on which economist you listen to).
3) We have a health care program that is a total disaster.
4) This administration has been a part of the overthrow
of the government in Egypt, Libya, and opened the
door in the Middle East for ISIS to get a stronghold.
5) The President and his administration have supported
such immorality as abortion, homosexuality, and
transvestitism which has led to transvestites being
able to go to either mens or womens restrooms
depending on how they feel at any given moment.
6) This transvestite problem opens the door for sexual
predators to have a hay day with their sinful nature.
7) Common Core is another of this administrations
blunders. I will write more on that later.
8) The administration has allowed the countries of North
Korea and Iran to mock us with its nuclear weapons.It
has allowed Iran to become one of the four strongest
nations in the world.
9) It has turned its back on Israel.
10) The administration has brought America to the place
of no respect. Are you aware that when President
Obama visited Cuba that no high-ranking Cuban
official met the President at the airport? Not only that,
when the President went to Saudi Arabia, no highranking Saudi official met the President there either!
Unheard of!! America is no longer respected.
11) Also no military personnel are allowed to speak at
church in uniform by order of the President!!

12) To say that immigration is a problem is an


understatement.
We are told in Proverbs 14:34 that righteousness exalts
a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people!!

What to do:
Vote for righteousness this election!!

I deeply appreciate the


help of
Mary Parsons
Glenda Myrick
And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these


people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road


Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org

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