Conceived, Believed, Received

Daily Reading: Acts 10

Scripture Focus: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality... To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10.34, 43)

Devotional Thought: "Forgiveness of sins through his name..."  It's a glorious reality, but how does it work?

• First, it is conceived in the heart of God: "God shows no partiality."  Forgiveness is not something that originates in people’s quest for God.  Instead, it is the result of God’s quest for people.  Forgiveness comes to us because of God’s great love.  Your forgiveness and my forgiveness are already completed on God’s part.  We have all been forgiven through the blood of Jesus.

• Then, it is believed in the minds of people: “Everyone who believes in him…”  To be saved, we must believe that Jesus died for us personally.  “To all who... believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1.12).  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10.9-10).

• Finally, it is received in the name of Jesus.  “Everyone… receives forgiveness of sins in his name.”  We do not receive forgiveness in any other way. We do not earn it or work for it.  “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” (Ephesians 2.8-9).  “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).

Forgiveness: conceived by God, believed by people, and received by faith.  Amen!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for your great plan of salvation.  Having conceived it, you gave your Son and then sent the Spirit to reveal it to me and to help me believe and receive.  I praise you, O Lord!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 69.13-21

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

17 Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.

20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.