Devotional for December 21, 2021
Morning Colossians 1:21-23
Noon Psalms 125
Evening 1 Corinthians 1:1-13
There are doctrines that introduce the subject of sanctification in a distorted way by teaching that the saints are a select group of super-Christians, whose merits allowed them to achieve that status. They even believe that to be declared a saint, you must go through a certain process after death. But is this what God's Word teaches? Is holiness just for a group of people? Of course not. Anyone who repents of his sins and places genuine faith in Christ is sanctified and therefore holy. Paul said this about the believers in the Corinthian church: “And this was some of you: but you have already been washed, but you are already sanctified, but you are already justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The believer must understand that he is holy before God not because of his works, but because of the work and merit of Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life and fulfilled all the law. When we place our faith in Jesus, not only are our sins placed on him, but his righteousness is placed on us. In this way we are declared righteous and holy before God.
The true Christian ideal is not to be happy, but to be holy -A. W. Tozer
Written by Juan Daniel de la Vega,
Translated by Maria Elena Cardona
Morning Colossians 1:21-23
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Noon Psalms 125
1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4 Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
Evening 1 Corinthians 1:1-13
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Prayer Guide: [Cuba-Céspedes] and [México-Las Palomas]
