Jan 9, 2004

[Kidan]

Quote[/b] ]May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless . . .
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

Today's UTMOST


As many of you may know I'm a Salvationist.  As such, I believe in the total depravity of mankind, and the total sanctification of believers.  Now on the surface this looks contradictory, for even believers sin, but it's not.  As a believer, we operate under the grace of Christ.  We have the protection of the grace, for the sins we've committed, until we're convicted of them, or in general realize our sin and have asked forgiveness.  It's this grace that allows us to be preserved blameless in both body and spirit.  That allows us to live a fully sanctified life, here on earth.

Now reading today's devotional you'll realize that, even though what I just wrote does deal with the verse, it doesn't truly match up with the scripture (especially since it's a partial verse) and what's found in today's UTMOST.

But that's ok.  For today's UTMOST is telling us that we need to stop and think and meditate on the truths of God on a daily (if not a more often) basis.  When was the last time you sat and thought about what a great and wonderful gift salvation truly is, especially in light of the price that was paid for it.  Remember devotionals and Bible studies are not solely to learn something new, but they're also there to allow you to relearn something you already know.


I often tell people that they should always increase in knowledge.  That they should constantly be trying to learn more and more.  Yet a big portion of this learning, is remembering what you've already learned, and unless you recall it time to time, more than likely you'll forget it.

 

[Skowsa]

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Pretty simple isn't grow in knowledge and you grow in the favour of God and men. Knowledge for knowledge's sake is pointless. But as Kidan said, learn passages of scripture so that they can be recalled when needed.

Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Read the bible and pray. Simple instructions with great results.