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Daily Reading:  Ephesians 2

Scripture Focus: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2.8-10)

Devotional Thought:  Lana and I had purchased some appliances to install in our kitchenette in the basement.  All the “slide-in” appliances were hooked up – an oven/range, a small refrigerator, a dishwasher – everything except the over-the-range microwave.  It was just too heavy for me to lift by myself.  The plan was to have my sons-in-law help me install it when they came at Christmas.  They’re young and strong!  My Christmas plans were changed, however, when I came down with the flu.  Unable to supervise the installation, I did the unthinkable: I had to swallow my pride and ask them to do it for me!  Three things were necessary for me to do that: I had to believe that they could do it.  I had to believe that they would do it.  And, I had to ask.  I did, they did, and the microwave is there!

While I could have eventually installed the microwave myself, such is not the case with our salvation, which is the "gift of God."  We have to believe that Jesus can and that he will save us.  Then, by faith, we have to ask.  It is by grace that we are saved through faith.  There is no substitute.  "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4.12).

Perhaps you have all the “easy” stuff done, all the slide-ins are in place, but there is something missing in your life.  Perhaps you have been trying to do good works to earn your salvation.  Perhaps you have never put your faith in Jesus to save you.  Do the “unthinkable”!  Trust Jesus and ask him to save you by grace today!

Prayer: "Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.  Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.  Thank you, Lord, for giving to me, thy great salvation so full and free."  Amen.  (Seth Sykes)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 147.12-20

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.

20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!