Psalm of the Day: Psalm 26
Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 17:1-13
Scripture Reading: Luke 3:7-14
We should mark what a blow John strikes at the common notion, that connection with godly people can save our souls. "Do not begin to say to yourselves," he tells the Jews, "we have Abraham as our Father; for I say unto you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones."
The strong hold that this false notion has gained on the heart of man, in every part of the world is an affecting proof of our fallen and corrupt condition. Thousands have always been found, in every age of the church who have believed that connection with godly men made them acceptable in the sight of God. Thousands have lived and died in the blind delusion, that because they were allied to holy people by ties of blood or church-membership they might themselves hope to be saved.
Let it be a settled principle with us, that saving religion is a PERSONAL thing. It is a business between each man's own soul, and Christ. It will profit us nothing at the last day, to have belonged to the Church of Luther, or Calvin, or Cranmer, or Knox, or Owen, or Wesley, or Whitfield. Did we have the faith of these holy men? Did we believe as they believed and strive to live as they lived and to follow Christ as they followed Him? These will be the only points on which our salvation will turn. It will save no man to have Abraham's blood in his veins if he did not possess Abraham's faith and do Abraham's works.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, help me to measure my faith. Is it borrowed from others or genuinely mine?
Action Plan: Take time to reflect on how your faith makes a difference in your life today. If it does not make a difference, why do you think that is?
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
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