Matthew 14 Ministries

Pastor's Devotional Series

How We Are (And Aren’t) Saved

Do you still lack peace about your relationship with God? You can have assurance today.

John 1:9-12

Salvation refers to the freedom that is gained when the Lord rescues someone and makes that person part of His family (Romans 6:6-7). This statement often evokes many questions:

If I try to live morally, won’t God accept me? Questions like this assume that the Lord saves us on the basis of how we live. But Romans 3:10 says, “There is no righteous person, not even one.” Holy God will not have dealings with unrighteous people—in other words, those who haven’t trusted in Christ. What’s more, Ephesians 2:8-9 specifies that salvation is “by grace ... through faith.” It is the “gift of God” and “not a result of works.”

Won’t the Lord accept me because of His goodness? God is loving and good, but He is also just and cannot overlook sin. Pride makes us reject the idea that we need forgiveness.

If I serve or help others in God’s name, aren’t I part of His family? Good works are wonderful, but they don’t reconcile us to God. Acts of service are an important result of salvation rather than the basis for it. Verse 12 of today’s passage shows that receiving Christ is the way to be in God’s family.

Salvation is a work of divine grace, not the product of man’s effort. Thankfully, when we respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, believe in Jesus, and are born again as God’s children (John 3:3), we can rest assured.

Benefits of Intimacy With God

Experiencing God's love enables us to extend His grace and mercy to others.

John 15:15

Yesterday we mentioned we all want to be loved—in other words, to be fully known by another person yet still cherished and accepted on both our good days and bad. This kind of bond is hard to break since both people feel safe. Do you enjoy any relationships like this?

Research shows that this level of love and acceptance is lacking in many instances. For one thing, it’s hard to love someone else unconditionally, much less multiple “someones.” And we might naturally fear others can’t love us that way, either. So perhaps we hold back, afraid to fully expose our heart, lest we be judged or rejected.

But God invites us—and longs for us—to experience that kind of intimacy with Him. In today’s passage, He calls us His friends. If we are completely open with Him and fully trust that He loves us unconditionally, we can love others better. The Lord will also give us spiritual sensitivity and teach us to see people the way He does—as beloved children. We will then become more understanding and be able to extend the grace and mercy we ourselves have received (John 13:34).

What’s one way you can give this type of love to someone else? More importantly, what’s one step you can take to cultivate a more intimate relationship with the Lord? After all, that’s the foundation for everything else.

Barriers to Intimacy With God

What is keeping you from the joy and peace that come from a close relationship with God?

Psalms 63:1-8

What do you want more than anything else in life? Is it a relationship? An opportunity? Most of the things we wish for involve someone else. We all want to be loved. But even our closest relationships can leave us feeling disappointed or lonely at times, despite our best efforts.

Consider our relationship with the Lord. He says he loves us “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), but it can be difficult to know what true intimacy with Him looks or feels like. In Psalm 63, David compares his soul’s great hunger for God to feeling thirst “in a dry and exhausted land where there is no water” (v. 1) Have you ever felt that kind of longing for God’s company? It’s exactly the kind of closeness He wants for us.

Perhaps you struggle to feel near to the Lord. It could be pride that’s preventing you from admitting your need for Him. Maybe you feel life’s too hectic to sit in His presence. Or it’s possible you’re afraid to be transparent. That’s understandable, especially if you’ve been betrayed in the past. But remember, God will never fall short the way humans do. Whatever the case, simply start spending a few minutes with Him each day, and you’ll notice you have a bit more margin than you thought.

Pray to discover any barriers standing in the way of a deeper connection. And ask God to reveal steps you can take to experience more oneness and closeness with Him. He will answer.

How to Build Truth

When we are firmly rooted in God's truth, we can withstand the storms of life.

Proverbs 3:3-4

Many of us are familiar with the fable of the three little pigs who each build a house—one of straw, another of sticks, and the last of bricks. A wolf “huffs and puffs” to blow their homes down and is successful with the first two. But the house of bricks stands. Does that story ring a bell?

Jesus taught the same principle. He said one man built his house on a rock while another built on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). In rain and wind, the home on the solid foundation was protected. But Jesus was teaching about obedience, not construction. The point is that life must be built on the dependability of the gospel if we’re to withstand the storms that arise.

Today’s proverb says, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you … Write them on the tablet of your heart” (v. 3). Truth should be an intrinsic part of life, as second nature as breathing. But how do we build it in? Here are five steps to take:

1. Evaluate the results of past failures regarding truthfulness.

2. Accept the Bible as the ultimate guidebook for truth.

3. Practice communicating with love and compassion.

4. Ask God to give you an ever-increasing desire for truthfulness along with ever-increasing humility.

5. Feast on the Word of God daily.

Remember, truth delights the Lord (Proverbs 12:22) and is a blessing for us as well.

What’s Not Done

When God asks you to do the impossible, trust Him and know that He is with you every step of the way.

Genesis 22:1-18

Today’s passage tells an amazing story of a father being asked to sacrifice his beloved and long-awaited son. But an important (and perhaps overlooked) detail of this story is what wasn’t done.

Notice that from the very beginning, Abraham didn’t bargain with God to spare Isaac. This would have been a perfectly acceptable action according to our human perspective, but he didn’t do it. Scripture tells us only that “early the next morning,” Abraham got to work carrying out each step of the dire task (v. 3 NIV).

It is Abraham who prepared the altar, bound his son, wielded the knife, and even raised it over his son. Nowhere in what had to be and agonizing process does it say that he delayed, hoping the Lord would change His mind. Why? Because he trusted God—so much so, in fact, that he was willing to go through with the unthinkable.

It’s not until the actual act of sacrifice has begun, when the angel called out to him and a ram was provided, that Abraham knew relief (v. 12). Through both what he did—and what he refrained from doing—Abraham teaches us something about obedience as well as the loving nature of our God.

Trust and Transformation

Faith in God changes our heart and impacts every decision and relationship.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Knowledge is a good thing; there’s nothing wrong with studying doctrine, theology, or church history. But we need to understand that knowledge and belief aren’t the same. And neither one on its own is anything without trust. Think of it this way: If God’s love is like the air in our lungs, then our trust in Him is like the connective tissue in our body, holding everything together.

A lot of people consider trust an abstract concept. But in reality, it results in observable change in action or attitude. And that’s what we see in the Bible—references to trust, faith, or belief are usually associated with noticeable transformation.

Likewise, when we trust God wholeheartedly, there’s often a noticeable change that occurs. It may be something that happens within us rather than to our circumstances. But when God’s love causes such a shift, our perspective is likely to change and impact our daily life as well. For instance, it’s possible people around us will feel encouraged by our presence, we’ll treat the environment with more care, and our reactions will open the door to peace instead of conflict.

Trusting God frequently begins in commonplace moments. Sometimes the greatest change is triggered by an action as simple as humbly asking the Lord for help. Take even one small step toward Him today. Let Him show you how trustworthy He is.

Living Out Our Faith

Do you feel far from God? Maybe it’s time to get back to the basics.

John 1:12; John 3:16-17

It’s easy to say we believe in God; even when our heart remains far from Him. That’s simply a factor of the human condition, and not something to punish ourselves over. But it is wise to be honest with ourselves and the Lord about where we are in our relationship with Him. There’s no better way to move forward and fully experience His peace and joy in our lives.

And toward that end, it’s helpful to remember that the simple, basic elements of our faith are more than just simple and basic. They’re profound, transformational realities—not just good or correct thoughts we “believe in.” As Believers in Christ, we don’t just believe in our hearts or with our minds, it’s with our whole being. And we grow in faith by regularly including certain activities in our routine that are taught in God’s Word:

Talking to the Lord.

Sitting quietly and listening for the Holy Spirit.

Reading the Bible with an open heart and mind.

Reviewing the core beliefs and principles of our faith.

Fellowshipping with others who know Christ.

Worshipping.

The walk of faith doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that whether you’ve known Christ for 1 day or 100 years. This week, find a healthy rhythm of doing these things, and don’t worry about how you’re performing. You’ll see how rich simple faith truly is.

The Author of Salvation

None of us can take credit for our salvation—the Lord did it all.

Romans 5:1-2

How many times does the word “I” come up when you talk about your salvation? For example, you might say, “When I came to Christ ...” or “When I asked Jesus into my heart ...” Those phrases are a natural part of salvation storytelling, and I’ve done it myself. But too many of those could give a false impression that salvation includes human effort. People may inadvertently be led to believe that you’re claiming redemption is “meeting in the middle” and both you and God played equal parts. To put it plainly, it can start to sound like, “He did His job, I did my job, and the result is salvation.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth! God didn’t leave His saving work unfinished; He didn’t stop halfway; Jesus wasn’t standing at some distant point waiting for you to catch up to Him. Instead, He was at always your side patiently waiting for you to accept His gift of eternal life.

And that’s because salvation is God’s work, God’s desire, and God’s initiative. He made eternal life available to every one of us and ensured nothing more was needed. It was Hid plan before creation even began. When you tell others about the Father, be sure to keep the focus where it should be, on Christ, the architect, instigator, workman, and deliverer of your redemption. Remember the saying isn’t “we save,” it’s, “Jesus saves!”

The God Who Meets All Needs

Our heavenly Father is concerned about every part of our life.

Ephesians 1:3-10

God’s care for us isn’t limited only to spiritual matters. He’s interested in the details of our daily life as well. We tend to put life into neat little boxes labeled work, home, and faith. But our heavenly Father sees us as whole persons and not just the “religious” box.

Scripture shows that God keeps bodies fed (Luke 12:29), minds wise (Proverbs 2:6-7), and hearts at ease (Philippians 4:7). And since believers are in union with Jesus through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, every part of a Christian’s existence has a spiritual connection. There isn’t a time in the day when a believer’s life separates into “religious” and “secular” components.

The Word of God stresses His commitment to believers’ whole selves: “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). We need never wonder if He can or wants to meet our needs. El-Shaddai, the all-sufficient One whose kindness never ceases (Lamentations 3:22), gives believers whatever is required to grow their faith—whether that is food, comfort, knowledge, or peace.

Our loving heavenly Father sees His children as whole people instead of physical beings with a spiritual life on the side. We cheat ourselves when we think God is interested solely in our spiritual needs. He has many kinds of blessings to offer—all we have to do is ask.

Staying Young All Your Life

Psalm 92:12-15

Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so—attitude is what makes the difference. Here are some suggestions for staying young your whole life. And since I’m well over 80, you can be sure I’ve tested them all!

First, we need to keep learning. Though learning takes effort, it allows to us to remain productive and keep contributing in the world. Gaining knowledge of Scripture should be first on our list, because God’s perspective reduces our anxiety and prepares us for His plan. But we should also commit to read up on our interests, take on new projects, and learn to use technology.

Of course, the more birthdays we have, the more challenging it can be to keep up with technological advances. But we can still remain productive, which leads me to my next suggestion: Keep laboring—even if you choose to retire from your vocation. Just as certain fruit improves as trees age, years of walking with God should yield greater fruit. Whatever your age, look for service opportunities through the church and other ministries.

If God blesses you with many years, bless Him with your service. He wants to use you all of your days, so stay young at heart as long as you can.

The Landmine of 'Unforgiveness'

Ephesians 4:25-32

It can be difficult to let go of resentment towards those who have hurt us. But that is exactly what God asks us to do—not only for their good but also for our own. 'Unforgiveness' causes stress and unhappiness that can creep into our relationships with co-workers, friends, and family. But when we choose to forgive, we will find freedom. Here are things to do if you have noticed bitterness in your heart:

• Assume full responsibility for your unforgiving spirit. The other person may be responsible for wrongful actions toward us, but we are nonetheless responsible for the sin of harboring bitterness.

• Confess honestly. It’s appropriate to admit to God when we harbor resentment or wish for someone’s punishment. But since an unforgiving spirit will return unless we can permanently lay down our anger, this is a choice many people must make repeatedly.

• Pray for your wrongdoer. We may not feel like talking to God on behalf of someone who’s hurt us, but doing so is the way to break the hold bitterness has on us.

Even after we have done these things, resentment may still crop up in our hearts. When that happens, we can thank God that we have, in fact, forgiven. We can also refuse Satan’s invitation to rehash the past.

Our God Is Able

Jude 1:24-25

Unfortunately, there are times when, no matter how hard we try or how talented we may be, we fail. How are we to succeed when the odds are against us? For believers in Christ Jesus, the answer is to live with the knowledge that God works despite our weaknesses.

In Genesis, Sarah doubted when the Lord prophesied the birth of her son. “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” He replied (Gen. 18:14). Within a year, Sarah gave birth to baby Isaac. She saw that God was able.

Moses was scared when God sent him to Pharaoh to demand that the Hebrew slaves be released. “Who am I,” he asked, “that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11). God replied that He Himself would release Israel, which He did in a miraculous way. Moses saw that God was able.

On our own, we can accomplish nothing (John 15:5). But with God, we have access to power beyond our comprehension (1 Chronicles 29:12). If you are overcome by burdens in your life, it is time to trust the only One who can carry your heavy load (Matt. 11:28-30). Then you will see for yourself that He is able

Reinforcing Our Faith

Jude 1:20-23

Though we’ve considered some ways to identify false teachers, it’s not possible to avoid this destructive influence completely. The best defense is a foundation of faith that enables us to stand firm against the subversive pull of the world. So how can we build a stronger faith?

First, we must saturate our mind with the Word of God. Then the Holy Spirit will bring new insights and help us mature.

Second, it is wise to do as Ephesians 6:18 urges: “Pray at all times in the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit understands exactly what truth we’ll need and when, so continually turning to Him for guidance leads to our protection.

Third, we must abide in the love of God. Of course, believers cannot fall beyond the scope of God’s love, but we shouldn’t take His amazing grace for granted. With that in mind, guard your intimacy with Him and the time you spend in His presence.

Fourth, eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ. The thought that He could return at any moment helps us maintain an eternal perspective (1 John 3:2-3).

Though there is no magic formula for strengthening our faith, the steps laid out in today’s passage will guide us toward God and away from the snares of the world.

Turning From Discouragement: We all encounter disappointment in life, but we don't have to be discouraged by it, thanks to the hope of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Many people view discouragement and disappointment as the same thing, but there’s a slight difference. Disappointment is an emotional response to a failed expectation, whereas discouragement, or despair, usually comes from prolonged disillusionment or continued hardship.

Since we cannot experience perfect success in a fallen world or keep ourselves from suffering, there’s no way to avoid all disappointments in life. However, we don’t have to yield to discouragement. With the right perspective of God and His sovereignty over us, we can avoid feelings of despair. When He, in His providence, allows failure and disappointment, it is part of His perfect plan, and He promises to use it for good (Rom. 8:28).

If our confidence is in ourselves and what we can accomplish, we will always be disappointed. The only true remedy for discouragement is to put our hope in God. He alone can give us the courage to persevere, but we must be willing to look beyond the immediate to the eternal.

The Lord wants us to succeed but not necessarily in our self-reliant endeavors. Instead, may we all become victorious over despair and disappointment by trusting in and depending on Him.

The Believer’s Repentance: We’re better at following Jesus when we regularly confess our sins and repent.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21

Do you know the difference between confession of sin and repentance? We should be careful not to confuse the two—because it’s possible to confess without moving into genuine repentance. To confess sin is to agree with God’s assessment of our transgression, but repentance goes further. It involves taking responsibility for our sin by deliberately turning from it and committing to walk in obedience to God by the power of His Spirit.

It’s not enough to merely feel sorry and confess sin but change nothing. Jesus’ gracious forgiveness isn’t like a “get out of jail free” card from a certain board game. We must do more than casually say, “Lord, I’ve messed up again. I’m sorry.” To triumph over habitual sin, we must rely on God’s power, both to resist temptation and to obey Him. We might fail again, but it’s important that we keep coming to the Lord in sincere confession and repentance until He gives us victory —in this life or in the one to come.

If you are struggling with particular sin, ask the Lord to show you how grievous it is to Him. Then look at it from His perspective. I pray this results in a true spirit of repentance, and that your admission leads you to a more intimate relationship with the Father.

A Call to Repentance: Jesus called His followers to repent because turning away from sin is a critical part of our faith.

Luke 24:44-48

Repentance is a concept that isn’t talked about enough in some churches today. Yet it was a key point in what Jesus preached and something He specifically instructed the church to proclaim everywhere (Matt. 4:17; Luke 24:47).

Repentance is prompted by the Holy Spirit: He brings conviction concerning sin so that we’re encouraged to depend on Jesus’ righteousness. When we commit to repent—that is, to turn from sin and toward God—the Spirit supplies the power for us to do so. He transforms the inner person and gives new desires for holiness and obedience.

While salvation involves an understanding of sin and a choice to repent, some people mistakenly think they themselves must clean up their life before coming to Christ. But that is actually impossible. No one can make himself righteous apart from the work of the Holy Spirit—only God can give a clean heart, holy desires, and a transformed mind.

For unbelievers, that false assumption can seem an insurmountable obstacle to salvation. That’s why God’s children must know the truth about repentance and share it, clearing the way for lost souls to trust Christ as Savior.

Goals and Conscience: The more we let God’s Word inform our conscience, the more we can trust its warnings.

1 Timothy 1:18-19

Perhaps this has happened to you: While working toward a goal that honestly seems good, you realize getting there will require a choice or action that feels troubling. Anytime that is the case, you can be sure the Lord hasn’t approved the plan, because a godly goal will never force you to violate your conscience.

As we spend time in prayer and Bible study, the Holy Spirit builds God’s truth into our conscience, the “filter” through which we process our behavior and decisions. An inner alarm will go off if we think or act in a way that doesn’t align with that filter—it is God’s warning when we have stepped out of bounds.

The Lord won’t ever approve a goal that is achieved on a godless trail. Following that path will lead only to heartache, disappointment, and regret. If reaching an objective requires violation of your conscience, then you are headed where God has not called you, and the goal is your own—not His.

Good intentions aren’t enough to make a proposed plan right. Learn to appreciate your conscience—God’s gift of an internal warning system—and heed its admonitions.

Setting Goals: When our personal goals align with God's will, we can expect meaningful results.

James 4:13-17

Few things in life are accomplished by accident, which is why it’s important for us to set specific goals. However, in our planning, we should always seek the Lord’s guidance and not simply aim for our own earthly ambitions.

Whenever a new goal comes to mind, we should consider whether it is in line with God’s will. Some topics may be scripturally clear, but many are not, so we must also examine our motives. Are we seeking to please God or ourselves? Are we pursuing money, power, or self-advancement without considering its pitfalls (1 Timothy 6:9-10)? Does a desire for holiness and God’s glory influence our plans?

What’s more, we must hold our goals loosely in case God, in His providence, changes them. As Christians, we are servants of Christ and should readily yield to Him. So if our plans are upended, we must ultimately trust the Lord’s goodness, omniscience, and wisdom because He alone knows the best path for us.

Remember, the Lord is much more interested in your spiritual growth than in your temporal success. If your goals are truly of God, they will advance your maturity as a Christian. So evaluate them honestly, with a willingness to let them go.

Developing Spiritual Discernment: The wisdom in God's Word is more trustworthy than the wisdom in our mind.

Titus 1:1-16

In our individualistic society, we may think we don’t need anyone’s help in making decisions, forming convictions, or distinguishing truth from error. But such self-reliance doesn’t lead to true wisdom and spiritual discernment. To know the Lord’s mind about a matter, we must rely on His Word. In the pages of Scripture, God has revealed who He is, how He works, and the way His followers are to deepen both their understanding and their relationship with Him.

God has also appointed leaders in the church to help us develop spiritual discernment. They do this by teaching sound doctrine and refuting any ideas that contradict Scripture. Under the instruction of these mature believers, we can grow in righteousness by learning biblical truths and then applying them.

Since every aspect of life is influenced by our capacity to make wise, godly judgments, it’s essential that we read the Bible and heed the instruction of our pastors. The truths we learn become a filter for everything we see, hear, and experience. Then, if we encounter error, our internal alarm will go off to protect us from deception.

We all need help when it comes to wisdom. So let’s ask the Lord today to guide us away from self-reliance and towards His holy Word.

Are we growing in Christ?

In today’s passage, we are reminded that our growth as Christians is a long-term process. We do not instantly understand all spiritual things at the moment of salvation. Instead, we develop wisdom over time through Bible study, prayer, and obedience to God’s principles and commands. With diligence, we increasingly learn how to distinguish between truth and error, good and evil, and divine will and personal impressions.

One of the biggest dangers for believers is a failure to mature. To grow, we must have nourishment from God’s Word, and to become strong, we need the exercise of obedience. Otherwise, we would easily be deceived, tossed about, and distracted by every new teaching that comes our way (Eph. 4:13-14). What’s more, we wouldn’t become familiar with deeper spiritual truths. Our grasp of God’s greatness would be minuscule and our appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice, shallow. And the Bible would remain a confusing and unappealing book to us.

Growing shouldn’t be considered optional in a believer’s life. Too often we think spiritual immaturity is normal, but God doesn’t. He has greater hopes and plans for our relationship with Him.

God’s Voice Today

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Have you ever considered that our omnipotent God can communicate with us in any way He pleases? We may expect Him to speak audibly or send an angelic messenger, but He won’t be limited to a certain method of communication. Instead, it is our responsibility to learn how to perceive His voice.

Today our Father speaks to us primarily through His Word. The Scriptures are fully reliable because the Holy Spirit of God literally breathed His truth upon the minds of men, who recorded it precisely (2 Timothy 3:16).

So often when trouble strikes, we turn to some friend or counselor. That is good, for the Father does speak through godly men and women. But the first place we should turn is to His Word.

God has given us this Book so that we might know Him. If you pick up the Bible only when you have a question or emergency, then you won’t have a true picture of who the Lord is or what He wants you to know. Scripture is a treasure trove of God’s thoughts. Spend time there every day—starting today—to discover new truths and insights.

A Vision for Believers

Matthew 28:16-20

Most people have ambitions for their life. Some aim for a high-powered career or financial success, while others dream about having close friendships or impacting the world. But no matter what our personal goals may be, we should be aware of the vision God has cast for all of His children. Known as the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20 charges us to “go and make disciples of all the nations.”

But what does it mean to “make disciples”? Some Christians think this refers to adding new church members. However, God is not interested in numbers or external appearances; He’s concerned about genuine heart change. So, He commissions His followers to lead others, first to saving faith in Jesus Christ and then to baptism as a public declaration of their trust in the Savior.

Once Jesus shared these objectives, the disciples spent the rest of their days fulfilling them. In fact, almost every one gave his life to accomplish them.

This command has not changed. Our Father still expects us to share the good news of the gospel, to teach people how to be followers of Jesus Christ, and to baptize those who are saved.

Are you living with God’s purpose as your guide? Ask Him for the courage to share His message of hope and love.

Proclaim the word of God!

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