Today's daily devotional from Andrew Womack says this:
Who Is Saved?
Luke 13:23-24 'Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few
that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate:
for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.'
Jesus said that many will seek to enter salvation and will
not be able to. There are many reasons for this, but it is not because God
refused salvation to anyone. 'The grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to all men . . .' (Timothy 2:11) and God 'is not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance' (2 Peter 3:9).
There is effort involved in obtaining salvation. The effort
is not for the purpose of earning salvation. That is a free gift (Romans 5:15);
but we do have to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Faith in Jesus'
goodness is what saves us - not our own goodness - and Satan is constantly
trying to destroy our faith. We have to earnestly contend for the faith. True
salvation is not just mental assent, but a real heart-felt commitment.
Many people today think that going to church and associating
with Christians will provide them with salvation. Some people think that they
are Christians because their parents were. But salvation is having a personal
relationship with the Lord. You cannot inherit salvation through the natural
birth process. 'You must be born again.'
We can rest assured that all those who hunger and thirst
after righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). 'Whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.'
So many people are STILL 'seeking' to find a way to be pleasing to God BEFORE they ever receive JESUS as Lord and Saviour! That is NOT possible! Receiving JESUS as Lord and Saviour is the very first step in becoming a member of God's family and in learning to please the Lord! Being FILLED with Holy Spirit to overflowing is the next step! I encourage each of you to find what God has called YOU to do, and then go DO IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I AM!":
Shalom in Him!
