Daily Thoughts about God

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” – John 10:28

It seems more and more that we live in a broken world. People are looking for loopholes and ways to get out of their responsibilities. For many people getting away with breaking a relationship, contract, marriage or whatever ties people together is considered an act of being smarter than someone else. As long as anyone can get away with using the loopholes, then it’s okay.

The days when people’s word was their bond seem to have passed on to a time of considering that’s what is right is what one can get away with. It seems like nothing much is secure in today’s world.

I can think of one exception and that is my eternal salvation that comes by faith in accepting Jesus as my savior. You and I do not have eternal life because we exhibit unwavering faith. We are saved because at a moment in time when God chose us, we expressed faith in our enduring Lord, Jesus Christ, and what He accomplished for us on the cross.

We have been saved by grace and that not of ourselves. It is the gift from God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. The salvation that has been given to us is His loving, sacrificial gift to us. We can do nothing to earn it. (Ephesians 2:8)

A present that can be taken back is not really a gift at all. True gifts have no strings attached. Once we place a condition of any kind on a present, it becomes a trade, not a gift. Questioning the permanency of our salvation is equivalent to not believing Christ’s sacrifice on the cross clearly as a gift. We are reconciled to God the moment we accept what He has offered.

Has there been a time in your life when you accepted God’s free gift of salvation? If not, why not settle the issue once and for all right now? It’s really so simple. The Lord is not looking for a series of promises from you, nor is He concerned about what you can do for Him. Rather, He is more concerned about what you will let Him do in you. So have faith in what Christ has accomplished on the cross and accept His gift of eternal life. It is the one present you will never lose. It will truly be yours forever. Your salvation is one thing no one can snatch out of your hand.

By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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“Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.” Psalm 31:21

Physiologist Walter Cannon first coined the phrase “fight or flight” to describe the reaction of animals and people to stress, to real or perceived threats. When placed in situations we consider dangerous, or even when we hear about traumatic events (called “witness trauma”), we almost instantaneously react, preparing for quick response.

The physical body undergoes immediate changes: adrenaline rushes into the bloodstream, giving a surge of energy. Natural “fight” reactions include attacking the enemy: animals may growl while humans want to punch or kick.

The mind is also affected: priorities are scrambled because every activity now moves to the Number One spot. The urge to take flight—move away from the danger—has both mental and emotional ramifications. Freezing can be illustrated by animals “playing dead”; humans staying locked in their homes, refusing all social contact. We have all known people who simply freeze in response to trauma. The body stiffens, the emotions shut down.

But is it possible for Christians to have another response to turmoil in addition to these normal “human-wired” reactions? David in Psalm 31 wrote that he was in distress and anguish, experiencing sorrow and loneliness, but he went on to say, “I trust in you, Lord… My times are in your hands…the Lord showed me the wonders of His love when I was in a city under siege.”

As we practice on a daily basis placing our faith in a God of love and grace, we become better prepared for the impacts of trauma that inevitably strike. Someone wrote that the practical spiritual disciplines like solitude, stillness, listening for God are the tools with which we dig furrows in the heart to train us for recognizing God’s presence. And it is that Presence which abides with us in our “besieged cities.”

By Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

That Which Cannot be Broken

Fight, Flight, Freeze …or Faith?

Daily Thoughts about God Posts

That Which Cannot be Broken

Fight, Flight, Freeze …or Faith?