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Read Romans 5:1-6
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 1).
In an effort to be a good Christian, as a teen-ager I turned a spiritual magnifying glass on myself, absorbed with every thought or deed that might be wrong. Throughout my day, I was constantly apologizing to God for the slightest infraction. Let us just say I was not a very joyful or a very peaceful follower of Christ.
Ironically, in my effort to do what was right as a Christian, I became very focused on myself rather than on Christ. Something was seriously backwards about the whole thing. My worries about “what if I have done something wrong” actually undermined the very faith I needed.
So here is my testimony of what Christ has done for me: He has delivered me from myself. At this and other times in my life, when I have been completely bound by doubts and trying to do or be, Jesus has swept in and brought release. He has also dealt with my pride, one of the unpleasant roots of it all.
When it comes right down to it, neither you nor I can ever be good enough. We are only justified by faith, and faith in God is the only route to true peace. (Ashlee Englund)

Jesus is the source of our salvation.

This devotional is the entry for Friday, June 12, 2015, of Opening the Word.

Photo credit: "Magnified Eye_5364c" by James Emery used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work” (v. 8).
A few days ago, my wife and I picked up my sister and took her out for lunch to celebrate her eighty-sixth birthday. Since we were not familiar with the eating establishments in her area, we asked where she would like to eat. She told us of a restaurant that she liked, and fried chicken was their specialty (that suited me wonderfully). As we sat and enjoyed our lunch together, I observed a young man keeping the buffet stocked. I could not believe how much fried chicken he carried out. They had an abundant supply of fried chicken.
Though it seemed that the chicken was abundant, there was only so much chicken available. When we talk about God’s grace being abundant, we know that it cannot be exhausted. In our text verse we read “all grace.” Paul said that this “all grace” abounds toward us. It is not something that we are entitled to, but God makes “all grace” abound toward us when we are His children, endeavoring to live in obedience to His commands and in accordance with His statutes. He understands our weaknesses and limitations but wants us to come to Him for help when we fail to live up to His expectations. (Larry DeOrnellis)

It is wonderful to know that God makes all grace abound to us, His children.

This devotional is the Friday, June 5, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

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