The Rising of the Sun

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd June 16, 2016 - Filed in Devotional - 10,593 views
  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8 WEB
  
  One night we watched a movie where the people made a sacrifice every day so that the sun would come up. All was well until one day everything went wrong and they failed to make the daily sacrifice. The people were terrified and thought the world was ending. Instead, the next day came and the sun rose in the sky anyway. They learned that the sun just came up, with or without their sacrifice. They had been practicing a ritual and thought that it was making a difference, but it was only a tradition that had been passed down through the generations.
  
  So it can be with us. When I came to the Lord, I read the Bible about eight hours a day, fasted more than I ate, went through Bible College, gave all that I had in the offering plate, but there was still no intimacy in my relationship to God. He was distant and I was trying to earn His love. I knew all about God, I just did not know Him. He loved me the whole time. His love was already there every day while I was busy trying to earn it. I was only ignoring Him while focusing hard on my traditions.
  
  There is certainly nothing wrong with fervently seeking God, and I still do, but remember that He is also seeking you. 'We love Him because He first loved us' (1 John 4:19). 'What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?' (Luke 15:4).
  
  Relax. Talk to God as you would your best friend and just be yourself. God already loves you today and you will not increase this love by your works. Of course you should try and live right, and faith with out works is dead, but works without the relationship is a waste of your time and resources. If you miss the mark today, God will still love you just as the sun managed to come up without a sacrifice.
  
  Prayer: Oh Lord, please bring a balance into my life and help me to know You better. Fill my mind with Your thoughts and guide me today. I want to live my life with You at the center of it and have a relationship with You like Jesus did, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
  
  Note: Good morning, family, thank you all for helping out with your participation and feedback at Tuesday''s test service! Our first official live service will be happening this Sunday (Father''s Day) at 11am EST! For some who may be concerned about being seen on video, only Pastor Dion will be on video. Members will have a chat area where they can type comments and prayer requests, and Pastor Dion will respond over the video. We have made some good improvements from the feedback, and hope to see you all there! Please see the event for more info. ALSO, for those who are not aware, the "Spiritually Single" group hosts a "Fast & Pray Friday" event where they fast for pre-believing spouses, but also for other family and loved ones who are not yet part of the body of Christ, or may have backslidden. All are welcome to join. Have a very blessed and peaceful day!