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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 29 September 21:
James 2:19, 20 — “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
Many who claim to be Christian don’t even have a demon-level of faith — they don’t even shudder. Believing in Jesus isn’t the same as having a saving faith in Jesus, humbly trusting, following, and loving Jesus. The Great Commission does not call us to go into the world and make “believers;” it calls us to make “disciples,” disciplined, followers of Christ who are motivated by love to obey Him – “Go therefore and make disciples… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Obedience is not the path to salvation but rather the evidence of salvation. “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” (Proverbs 20:11) “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3, 4)
- Psalm 96:9 — Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
- Psalm 99:1 — The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
- Luke 6:46 — Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
- Matthew 7:21 — “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
- 1 John 2:6 — …whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
- 1 John 3:24 — Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
- 2 John 1:9 — Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
- 1 John 5:3 — For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 29 September 21: Today, pray for a perspective of the Gospel which will compel you in love and appreciation to obey God with joy, cleansing yourself from defilement and laying aside the weight of sin which has been weighing you down — “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1, 2)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 