Rev. Ray and Pat Amos

John 3:17

DEVOTION FOR TODAY, August 23, 2019

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Jesus said that He did not come to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. I am firmly convinced that if Jesus is not in the business of condemnation, then neither should the church be. Wesley was right when he told his preachers that they have nothing to do but save souls.

There are times when I feel overwhelmed with sadness because of the things that are happening in the lives of folks that I love. It is most difficult when people intentionally do the things that they know will create a whirlwind of trouble. More tears are shed needlessly because someone gets an attitude of “I’m going to do it anyway.” It is sadly true that we condemn ourselves.

There is a way that seems right to a person, but it ends in destruction. We tend to get pulled in that direction, and then swept away in in the rapids of a raging river. The world was going that direction when Jesus came with saving grace. He knows what we refuse to believe: the luring power of Satan and the weakness of a human.

Temptation is not a stranger to any of us; in fact the Bible says that it is “common” to every person. He died on a cross so there would be a way out of our tangled mess. It wasn’t the stone that was rolled away from the tomb that was the greater miracle of Easter; it was the stone that was removed from the grave of our hopeless soul. Jesus made a way out for every one of us.

The writer of the hymn understood our human tendency when she wrote, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.”

Friends, we walk through this world together; and it is a spiritual minefield. There is no room for fingers pointing in condemnation, but hands reaching to help, heal, and save. There are two things that we all need to get through this life. We need each other; and “People need the Lord. When will we realize that people need the Lord?”

Grace and Peace, Rev Ray

“Link to YouTube Video – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”