Tag Archive | grace

Faith: Soul Preserver

Jul8

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result (by the deeds) of the works, faith was perfected (completed); and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:20-23 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.20-23.NASB1995

The work of God is that we believe in Jesus. The gift of God is grace through faith.
John 6:29/Ephesians 2:8 NASB1995

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.17.NASB1995

🌹But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38-39 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.10.38-39.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Testimony* of God’s Abounding Love

May6

Do you ever recognize the abounding love of God in the little things?

Those little things are so huge to me that I stand in awe that God loves and cares that much for me.

This morning I was running late to work. What can take me anywhere from 15-20 minutes to drive – and usually it’s closer to the 20 – took 13 minutes.

Let me set up the reason why I know God showed His love to me today. I have two stop signs, one on a busy thoroughfare and ten stop lights, one I call the longest light in history if red, on my journey to work.

The first stop light on the busy thoroughfare had no cross traffic. Out of the ten stoplights I had to stop at three of them and the real blessing is “the longest light in history” was green. Woohoo.

I pulled into the parking lot with two minutes to spare. (And no, there was no speeding or illegal driving in the making of this testimony)

God has our days perfectly planned out and when we love Him with all our heart we see reasons to thank Him and praise Him!!!

🙌 Look for ways that God blesses you today. Thank Him and praise Him!!

🌹The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
Psalms 103:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.103.8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

* written July 1, 2023

Grateful for God’s Grace

Mar31

The majority of devotions I’ve written this month, I have written about, “Loving Your Neighbor”, a challenge for anyone.
God has taught me a lot through these “neighbor” verses, making me aware of just how hard hearted I can be sometimes because my neighbors don’t meet my criteria. I am reminded that God loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, you, and the world.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.16.NASB1995

I am to love my neighbor as Christ loved me. These are the ones I now pray for and I will practice loving my neighbor.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8.NASB1995

🌹A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Slander or Grace

Mar13

Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy (silence); No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.
Psalms 101:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.101.5.NASB1995

God knows our intentions, both of the mind and heart. We are totally transparent to God, so let us be truthful with ourselves. Let us rid ourselves of the things that God despises and surrender to His will, His way, His truth.

These the Lord hates, which are an abomination to Him (of His soul):

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Proverbs 6:16-17, 19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.6.17-19.NASB1995

🙏 God forgive me for slander spoken in my heart against my neighbor; for lies I speak outwardly and inwardly regarding my neighbor. Help me to not be a false witness full of lies, but a true witness of your truth and forgiveness. God clothe me in Your righteousness for Your namesake; for Your glory. Amen.

🌹A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Shine for Jesus

Mar3

God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon (with) us— Selah.
That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Psalms 67:1-2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.67.1-2.NASB1995

Have you ever seen a person or persons who’s face shines, where their smile lights up the room, noticing there is something different about them? Is their countenance shining with the light of the Lord?

Remember Moses of the Old Testament? His face shown because of time spent with God.

The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
Psalms 98:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.98.2.NASB1995

We are to be a light to the nations.

The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
Numbers 6:25 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/num.6.25.NASB1995

🌹“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
Matthew 5:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.14.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Thankful for God!

Feb7

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
Psalms 86:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.86.15.NASB1995

🙏I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Psalms 86:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.86.12-13.NASB1995

🌹Make glad the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Psalms 86:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.86.4.NASB1995

Have a great weekend!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Grace-o-meter

Feb4

Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.7.60.NASB1995

What is your grace-o-meter?
Are we as gracious to our persecutors, or the unsaved of this world, as Stephen was? What about other Christians?

Do I show as much grace to others as Jesus shows to me?

🌹. . . ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:39b NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.22.39.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon https://indasharonjesus.org

*** That person would

Jesus: Gift of Faith

Dec5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.5.1-2.NASB1995

🌹and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.5.5.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Thankful for the Gift

Nov29

I hope you enjoyed this month’s focus of thankfulness as much as I did. I think it’s awesome to focus on a month of thanksgiving to prepare our hearts to  celebrate a month of the greatest gift ever given to mankind . . . Jesus!!

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.9.6.NASB1995

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.2.7.NASB1995

Jesus, eight days old, is presented at the temple.

then he (Simeon, a priest) took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Luke 2:28-32 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.2.28-32.NASB1995

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
1 John 5:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.5.1.NASB1995

Are you ready to celebrate a month of Jesus and what He came to earth to do, in obedience to the Father? Let the celebration overflow into a new year. A new walk with Jesus. A new life encounter with Jesus.

To do this, you must make a decision to follow Jesus, believing He came as baby into the world to save the world from sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.6.23.NASB1995

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.2.8.NASB1995

The gift we will celebrate as believers in Jesus Christ. And

being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Romans 3:24 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.3.24.NASB1995

After praying, confessing your sins, asking God for forgiveness, turn from your sinful nature to walk with God.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.2.38.NASB1995

Now, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, you can walk in newness of life. Your gift of a new life is worth celebrating in Jesus. Let your December be a Merry one.

🌹so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 1:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.1.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

True Freedom

Oct24

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
John 8:31 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.8.31.NASB1995

Jesus said, “If you continue in My word” . . .
Jesus is the Word . . .
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.1.14.NASB1995

Jesus said, “then you are truly disciples of mine” . . .
the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9b NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2jn.1.9.NASB1995

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:32 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.8.32.NASB1995

Jesus is the Truth . . .
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.14.6.NASB1995

🌹So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.8.36.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org