Daily Devotional: Monday, March 8

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Grace

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching; The Time Has Come by Hillsong United; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Need You Here by Hillsong; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 5:20

Think: Starting our new Timberlake Message Series began with the very foundation of what we believe and why we do what we do at the church - GRACE! God'samazing, unbelievable, abounding gace! What a gift! We can't talk about grace without starting with the story of the well-know hymn, Amazing Grace. You may have heard it before... or maybe not, but either way it never gets old, nor does the tale lose its pointedness... Forgive me if I dont do it justice but here goes:   In the 1700s, John Newton went to sea with his father on a merchant ship. Soon after his father retired, Newton served on a warship. Facing terrible conditions, he deserted and then sought a position on a slave trading ship that was to set sail for Africa.  Newton hardened his heart against the trafficking of human beings, and eventually he became captain of his own slave ship. After a season of his new found profession however, his life was changed forever. His ship encountered a terrifying, violent storm. Just as it seemed that they were sure to sink, Newton cried out to God, "Lord, have mercy upon us!"  That night in his cabin alone, he began to really consider God's mercy. As he put his faith in Christ and came to understand Jesus' sacrifice for him, John Newton experienced God's amazing grace in a personal way. After some time, he left the slave trade and entered Christian ministry. Although he became a preacher of the Gospel, he is most remembered for his much-loved hymn "Amazing Grace." A song so famous that it has stood for centuries through the changing styles of worship and is known by Christians and no- Chrsitians alike... The most famous verse goes like this: Amazing grace-how sweet the sound-
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.   It's an amazing testimony of Newton's own experience as well as the experience of any who have come to put our hope and faith in Christ. The very fact that when we receive Jesus as our Savior, He does what we are powerless to do in our own strength and what certainly do not deserve. That truly is God's amazing grace. 

Do: Where have you been thinking God owes you something more than what you're getting? Be honest... and remember again what we truly deserve because of the sin and selfishness harbored in our hearts. Thank God for his truly amazing grace and that He gives not what we deserve, but what we don't deserve.

Pray: Lord You are so good to me and I am truly grateful that You do not give me what I deserve but what You lovingly offer: grace...love...salvation...purpose...hope... Just like Newton, I was a wretch, lost in my sin but now I am forgiven because of the grace You extended to me. Thank you Father, Amen! 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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