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The Riddle: Grace or Works

Posted by Dion Todd March 16th, 2015 13,724 Views 0 Comments

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26 ESV

Growing up on a farm with two brothers and ten step-siblings, I got to see first-hand those who were pleasing to their parents, and those who were not. The parents could ask one child to do something and they would. This pleased them and there would sometimes be a reward for the child. The child was then happy. Other children when simply asked to come home after work, would somehow land in jail. This hurt the parents, the child got no reward and was then sad. The parents loved all of the children whether they obeyed their wishes or not and they were all a part of the family, but there was joy and a reward for those that were obedient.

God loves each of us and we should respond to that by doing good. When we do, there will be a reward. We gain joy, fulfillment, and self-worth by doing good as well as the favor of God on our life. His love is free and you cannot earn it, but your life can be pleasing to Him, or not. Abel was pleasing to God, Cain was not (Gen 4:4). Ask, Action, Reward, when God asks you to do something, and you take action, there will be a reward. Do not shuffle this order.

If God asks you to do something and you sit down on a log, He will sit right beside you until you get up. I have sat on that log for years at a time. You are not alone, but you are not doing what He asked you, so you go nowhere. Sitting on that log is free, but obedience will cost you your selfish ways. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Take that risk to be free and do what you love, but season everything with prayer first. Whatever you do, get off that log.

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Post from Dion Todd

Dion Todd commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Commotion

2 days ago


We are in the middle of replacing the firewall, switching, and upgrading the Internet to Fiber. In the end, it will one-hundred times faster, from 20 to 2,000, but things are a bit hectic here at the moment. You may have received 20+ devotionals this morning. I did. Hopefully that will not happen tomorrow! We have been working on it since 3AM and are aware of the issues. Thank you for patience and understanding during the upgrade which will hopefully be over this week! God bless. 😀🙏



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Comment from Sylvia Todd

1 day ago

We are back up and things are looking good :)! Thank you so much for your prayers 🙏!


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Replies to this comment

1 day ago

Praise be to the GOD and Father on high in the name of Jesus!


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Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle

2 days ago

Dear Pastor, please know that you and Sylvia are in my prayers!!! Had been trying to sign in yesterday, but couldn't, and since we had some really bad storms up here practically all of Monday, rain and flooding, I thought that something happened to you! Please know that you are in my prayers! 🙏 My heartfelt gratitude for all that you do and your dedication, thanking the Lord for you! 🙏🤗


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Comment from Lynn Brown

2 days ago

Prayers for the switch to be smooth!🙏 We appreciate your hard work and look forward to the upgrades!😀


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Comment from Celeste Strenn

2 days ago

Thank you so very much for your dedication and hard work ❣️ thank you so much, so very very much for this most Blessed and most loved devotional ❣️




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