2026-01-19
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
Jack Welch, who guided the General Electric company through some of its most profitable years, wrote a book called Winning. Compiling many of the different questions people had asked him along with his answers, he wrote a book of management principles. One question was this: “Do you think you will go to heaven when you die?” In response, Jack listed some of the mistakes he had made in business and in life, including two divorces. Then he said, “So as far as heaven, who knows? But if there are any points given out for caring for people with every fiber of your being and giving life all you’ve got every day, then I suppose that I might have a shot!”
But going to heaven is not about caring for people or giving life all your energy every day. It’s about putting your trust in Jesus Christ – and in Him alone. Maybe understanding this truth is harder for successful businesspeople than for others, due to their own drive, vision, and energy that have helped them attain success.
But when it comes to heaven, those traits don’t count. No one earns heaven; it is a gift. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NKJV). Hebrews 6:4 calls it “the heavenly gift.” And the apostle Paul writes, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV).
Soul food: Dan 5-7; Luke 4:1-13; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 2:20
2025-06-21
Romans 4:22-24 NKJV
Picture a transfer of funds from one account to another. Banks do it every day. Now imagine yourself destitute and unable to pay your debts. Then in an astounding act of grace, someone assumes all your debts and then transfers to your account such abundance that you never have to work or worry for the rest of your life. That’s what happened at the cross when God imputed to Jesus all your sins from the cradle to the grave and imputed all His righteousness to you.
Mind-blowing, isn’t it? Would you say, “No thanks, I believe in paying my own way”? Would you say, “I can’t allow you to do everything while I do nothing, so I’ll work for the rest of my life to prove myself worthy of your love and grace”? Salvation is like health food that’s labelled “no man-made additives.” Understand this: The righteousness required for getting into heaven is not about behaving the right way, but believing the right way.
You say, “But I feel such guilt when I sin.” You’re supposed to! Your new nature is reacting to sin just as your body does to food poisoning. Your boundaries have been violated and your regenerate spirit is saying that you can’t indulge in that anymore; it’s not who you are!
Why did God arrange the plan of salvation in this way? Because any righteousness we could achieve falls far short of His standards. He actually calls it “filthy rags.” Understand this: Your rewards in heaven are based upon your behaviour, but your getting into heaven is based on trusting in Christ alone.
Soul food: Jer 14-17; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 21; Prov 14:17-20
2022-12-18
Psalm 62:8 NKJV
Life can feel overwhelming when you’re responsible for mortgage and rent payments, medical bills, clothes for the family, escalating food and fuel expenses, college fees, plus the reality of preparing for your retirement! And the pressure is even greater if you’re underemployed or unemployed. Where can you turn?
Surrounded by enemies, David turned to God: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation… I shall not be moved” (vv. 5-6 KJV). Where does your “expectation” lie? In the hope for an improved economy or job market? Or the promise of better times to come? David’s hope was more certain: He expected the answer to be found in the unchanging character and faithfulness of God.
When anxiety arises, we sometimes resort to our OMGWI list – “Oh my God, what if?” We focus on our fears, feel inadequate, and give in to despair. Being aware of your needs is being responsible but being overwhelmed by them is evidence you’re looking to the wrong source for answers.
George MacDonald said, “We look upon God as our last and feeblest resource. We only go to Him when we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven.” Remember David? “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” By Himself, plus nothing, God is your adequate source. Since He gave us His Son, you have all the evidence you need that He will also “freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32 GNT).
Soul food: Ps 103:8-18; John 3:16-18; Acts 2:38-41
2022-05-15
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
The Bible says, ‘Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.’ It seems a bit confusing – if God’s already at work within us, why do we need to put so much effort in? The Bible doesn’t say, ‘Work for your salvation.’ To work for something means to earn it, deserve it, and merit it, but the Bible teaches us that salvation isn’t something we have to earn or work for. It’s a free gift from God, given by His grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9).
When Paul wrote, ‘Work hard to show the results of your salvation,’ he’s talking about something like a spiritual ‘workout’. When we exercise, we develop and tone the muscles God has already created us to have. To ‘work hard to show the results’ here means to grow and make the most of what we’ve been given. What Paul’s saying is this: develop your spiritual life.
God has a part in our spiritual growth, and we also have a part. First, He gives us the eagerness to please Him; our part is to recognise that feeling and choose to act on it. Then He provides the power; our part is to access that power, flip the switch, and let it flow through our lives to fulfil His will for us. And we can do that by spending time praying and reading God’s Word each day, sharpening and strengthening each other through fellowship, and exercising the gifts God has given us. The truth is, He’s already done His part; now it’s up to us to do ours.
Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV
The Bible says, “Work out your own salvation… for it is God who works in you… to will and to do… His good pleasure.” This Scripture almost sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But instead, it is a paradox. And G.K. Chesterton described a paradox as “truth standing on its head to get attention.”
The key to understanding this particular paradox lies in the little word out. Notice that the Bible doesn’t say, “Work for your salvation.” To work for something means to earn it, deserve it, merit it. And the Bible plainly teaches that salvation isn’t something we have to work for or earn. It’s a free gift of God’s grace (See Ephesians 2:8-9). When Paul says, “Work out your salvation,” he is talking about a “spiritual workout.”
What do you do during a physical workout? You develop and tone the muscles God has already provided you. To “work out” means to grow and make the most of what you have been given. What Paul is saying here is this: Develop your spiritual life! God has a part in our spiritual growth, and we, too, have a part. He provides the power, but we must access it, flip the switch, and let it flow through our lives to fulfill His will for us.
Practically speaking, how do we do that? By spending time praying and reading God’s Word each day. By sharpening and strengthening one another through fellowship. By exercising the gifts God has given us. The fact is, He has already done His part; now it’s up to you to do yours.
Soul food: Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
