Great Effort VS Great Grace Keluarga Allah Daily Devotional January 20, 2018
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THE SOUL Romans 9:1-16
TODAY'S RHEMA Romans 9:16 "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy".
Have you ever thought that if only you were smarter, braver, good at speaking, you could do many great things with God? That thought might come to you because you see great people around you, and you start comparing yourself with others. However, if you look a little bit closer, you will find that those people are not that great after all. Nobody's perfect, God does not use people because of their ability, power, or skill.
Nick Vujicic -born with a rare syndrome characterized by the absence of arms and legs- is known all over the world as a great evangelist and motivational speaker; Rahab, a non-Jewish prostitute who is an ancestress in the line from which Jesus Christ was born- these people were not only considered as unqualified, but also marginalized, and underestimated by the people. But why did God use them and make them great? The only answer to this question is grace. It's only by His grace that nothing is impossible.
God's grace cannot be replaced by your great effort, skill or power. You cannot buy His grace with money either. Grace is as a result of God's mercy. Your skill, effort, and hard work are necessary but without His grace, all your doing can't count for much and may end up as vanity. So, now, when God chooses you, uses you, and trust you to serve Him, it's all only by His grace. Stop relying on your own power. Start focusing wholeheartedly on Him. He surely will pour His great grace on you and you will harvest His great mercy.
REFLECTION Saudara Terkasih, No matter how great human's effort is, great grace only comes from God.
APPLICATIONS 1. What does great grace mean? 2. Why can't you make an effort to receive grace? 3. How can you start relying on God's mercy?
TODAY'S PRAYER "Father, I thank you for grace. I want to keep relying on You, not on my own efforts. I am grateful to have a merciful God so that I am entrusted to do great things with You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."
YEARLY BIBLE READING 1 Kings 9 2 Chronicles 8
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