“On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.” (Acts 15:11)

“Clean up first, then believe.” it is the same as telling someone “Go to work first, then get dressed for work.”  It does not make sense. Many today hold to the belief that we need to be cleaned up first or appear a certain way before we can have a relationship with Jesus. There is a need to feel perfect before we can be accepted and feel included. Sadly, we are far from perfect.

Often, we think that there is something that we must do to be saved. That there is some kind of work, ritual, or emotional experience we must be a part of to experience a right relationship with God. We focus on our actions as a guarantor that we are saved. None of our actions such as community service involvement, church attendance, or even how loud we sing brings us salvation.

Salvation is gained only through the belief in Jesus Christ; it is through faith in him alone. There is nothing that we can do or must do for Jesus for he is the only way that salvation can be gained. We do not deserve this grace for it is unmerited and undeserved but through it we gain acceptance, and forgiveness for the behaviors and thoughts that we have done wrong in the eyes of God.
 
Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace we never could have earned or deserved it but, you freely gave it to us through your son Jesus.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins
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“Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
 
Many people go to college and get thousands of dollars in student loans to pay for their education. Having to take years to pay off the loan from borrowing money for their education. People end up owing money from the people they borrowed money from for decades. This debt can feel daunting since it can take a long time to pay down. There are other debts other people get personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, and even car loans. Owing people for many years. At some point these debts will be paid and we will not owe them anymore one debt that always remains is love.

Love should be our only ongoing debt. Love never ends it is as Buzz Lightyear says “To infinity and beyond” our love should go to infinity and beyond. There is no stopping love. It is not a one-time event but rather continuous. It does not depend on time, person, or even condition. This debt is continual and universal for we owe love to everyone it is not to a specific person, for a certain amount of time it applies to everyone. We are to love all. We can love all because God loved us first and his love knows no bounds. He loves no matter where we are in life. We know he loves us for he sent his son Jesus to pay the ultimate sacrifice for us so we can have a right relationship with God. This love has let us love God and love others.

Love is intentional it seeks others out. There are several ways we can show love to people, we can spend time with them, help them, compliment them, give a thoughtful gift, or even a hug or high five. Love is sacrificial we must give something up to love others, our time, resources, and space but others are worth it.
 
Heavenly Father, show us people we can love during our week.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins