Wednesday Devos

6 months later…………(finishing strong) As I sit here at my computer and type these words, several people come to mind. The people that I am thinking about are folks that I haven’t seen in a while. They are all folks who I have seen make professions of faith, join the church, and then leave the church. I am ashamed to say that where they are now, I do not know. They may be attending another church, have moved away, or possibly just stopped coming. What can we make of these situations? What can be said of those who were burning for Christ, and then their flame simply seemed to die? Before I go any further we must understand something. I am not being judgmental. I do not presume to know the condition of any one person’s heart but it is my desire to share scripture and thoughts right now so that God may enable you to finish strong. 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24—Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Only those who finish strong are true believers, and only true believers finish strong. This statement is made for us to examine ourselves, not others. Do you notice how everything, in the act of keeping us blameless is done by God? God sanctifies. God keeps us blameless. God calls. God surely does it. Surely. God is the worker of our assurance. Do you remember Fannie J. Crosby’s hymn? Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation, Purchase of God Born of His spirit, Washed in His blood To be purchased by God means that the cross effected your salvation. Effected, not affected. Effect is the result. Affect means it did something to it. Effect means it did it. Paul says that God will keep us blameless to the day of Christ’s return. He keeps us! Now, obviously, Christians sin. I sin all the time. So what keeps us blameless if we are worthy of the blame? The Answer-the blood of Jesus! If he calls us, he is faithful to keep us. The bible does not speak of a hypothetical bride or church. The assurance of Christ having a bride is in the assurance that God is faithful to keep us. “He will surely do it”. So what does this mean to us? It means this—if you are a true believer, Christ will keep you. He may allow you to wander off and resist him for a while, but you are His and if you are a true believer, your resistance will be overcome by His grace and you will return just as the prodigal son. The story of the prodigal son is as much about you coming home, because you are His, as it is coming home because you are in need. God is Love! He is faithful! He will surely do it! Josh Martin