Thurs., 2/14/19 Devotion (1 Cor. 1:30)

Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 1:30, where Paul wrote these words:

"But of Him [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— . . . "

Jesus Christ is not only our sole source of justification before God, He is also the means by which we are sanctified more and more into His image. This is important because some people get tempted to believe that they enter the kingdom of God through Christ, but that the rest is up to them. Christian churchmen *do* personally participate in their sanctification, but not (and never) aside from their continued faith-abiding in Christ.

If we have anything good to present to God, it is only in and through our Re-deemer. And all this is a work of God's sovereign grace in us. Let us live by faith today—it is the only life that pleases God.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Souls that are big in hope, will not be long without sweet assurance.” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]