The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky.  Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school.

As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each flash the little girl
would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?" The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty. God keeps taking my picture."  May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.

“In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Giving steps to salvation can be misleading because it implies that a person can work his way to heaven. As the above verse says, salvation is by His grace; we cannot earn it (Titus 3:5). Being dead in sin, an unbeliever doesn’t have the capacity to love God (Ephesians 2:1).

Thankfully, “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8), God redeemed us. Redemption is paying the price to loose from bondage. By sacrificing His Son on the cross, God paid the price for sin (which is death), freeing believers from sin’s oppression. By resurrecting Christ from the grave, God proved the sacrifice was effective, giving the Lord Jesus authority to rule and intercede at His right hand (Romans 4:25; Mark 16:19).

Although we cannot merit heaven by taking steps to salvation, we are called to respond to Christ’s redemption with repentance and faith. Even that response is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Thus, the question is correctly worded, “What are God’s steps to salvation of sinners?” He did it all through Christ!

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified [declared righteous/not guilty] as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; . . . Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Romans 3:23-24; 27-29).

The next question is, “What should be our response, by God’s grace, to Christ’s death and resurrection? Let’s review the following three responses. Discern whether you need to respond to God’s grace to be saved from sin and its sentence of hell.

Steps to Salvation (i.e. Response to Christ’s Redemption)

1. Recognize need: Before receiving Jesus as Savior, you must understand why you need a Savior. Most people think if they live a law-abiding life, they deserve heaven. The problem is their definition of law-abiding. On Judgment Day after death, we won’t stand before a fallible, human judge. We will answer to a holy God, who rightly judges our thoughts, words, and actions.
   
   God gives His law in the Bible, summarized by the Ten Commandments. Have you kept them? You might be thinking, “Well, I’ve never murdered anyone.” But Jesus revealed the true meaning of the law. He equated hatred with murder (Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15). Looking at someone with lust, Jesus taught, was adultery of the heart (Matthew 5:27-29).
   
   Besides, all of us have broken the two greatest commands: loving God wholeheartedly and loving others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). By loving possessions more than God and loving ourselves more than others, we have all “sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
   
   Are you guilty? “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). The penalty for sin that we all deserve is death, eternal separation from God in hell (Romans 6:23). Do you realize your need for a Savior from sin? That is God’s grace in convicting you!
2. Repent of sin: In turning to the Savior, you must turn from sin. Repentance isn’t a “Sorry I got caught” reaction. It’s a heartfelt sorrow of how sin grieves God, and then turning away from it to Christ who gives the power to overcome sin. You cannot embrace both sin and Christ.
   
   Although repentance leads to a change of behavior, it doesn’t mean we’ll never sin again. But we will have a different attitude toward it. Instead of craving the gratification of sin’s enticements, we’ll learn to detest it. God changes the lure of sin for the pure desire of delighting in Himself.
   
   After convicting us of sin (first response), God’s grace gives us the repentant desire to change (second response). Turning from sin, we turn in faith to the only Savior from sin. This trust in Christ’s payment for and triumph over sin involves the third response to God’s grace.
3. Receive Christ: For repentant sinners, God provides salvation from the penalty and power of sin through Jesus. Our response must be faith in who Christ is and what He has done. Jesus lived a perfect life for He was God in the flesh; Jesus died a redemptive death for He is the Savior from sin; Jesus resurrected as the Victor over sin and death for He is Lord over all.
   
   By God’s grace, we repent of sin, trusting Christ as Savior from sin and following Him as Lord of life. We’re born again to new life by the Holy Spirit. Thus, He changes our desires to joy in glorifying the Lord.

In conclusion, a person cannot merit heaven through taking certain steps to salvation. Rather, God calls a sinner to respond to Christ’s redemption. Even the response of repentance and faith is His grace. Christians have nothing to be proud about; they boast only in the Lord!

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Note that God saves Christians unto good works. All other religions require earning salvation by good works. Islam, for example, requires keeping the Five Pillars as steps to salvation.

In our pluralistic society, claiming one religion as truth seems arrogant. But God is not confined by men’s wishes and beliefs. As sovereign Judge, He could have let the law condemn us, resulting in eternal separation from Him in hell. But in love, God sent Christ to save His own from sin. Glory to God alone! How do you respond?

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People all over the world are constantly looking for the better item, whether buying fruit in a market or choosing a place to live.  We examine, ponder, compare, and finally make a choice based on what we believe is better.  I can't imaging anyone saying, "I'm convinced this one is worse, so I'll take it."

The book of Proverbs is filled with comparisons that point us toward the right pathway in life.  Because the book's purpose is to give the reader knowledge and wisdom based on the fear of the Lord, it's not surprising to find statements saying, "This is better than that."

In Proverbs 16, we read that it is silver; better to be humble among the poor gold or be proud among the wealthy; better to control our temper than to rule a city.  Some people have the ability to be both wise and wealth.  But when faced with a choice between the two, Proverbs says wisdom is the better alternative.

As we read the book of Proverbs, let's look for those sings that say, "This is better!"  When God's Word shapes our thinking and guides our choices, we'll discover that His way is always better.

During the Chinese New Year it is customary for small red envelopes containing money to be given away.  When parents give money to their children, it is also to wish them prosperity and success.  Knowing that this sincere wish is insufficient, however, they also remind their children to study hard.  Chines people generally believe that a good education is the key to one's success in life.

In Joshua 1, God told Joshua that his ways could prosper as he assumed Mose's leadership role.  But he and the people needed to display courage in the face of stiff opposition as they entered the Promised land.  God promised to give them success if they heeded His Book of the Law.

Believers today also need to live according to God's Word if we are to enjoy success in our spiritual walk,  The Bible contains not only the do's and dont's for living but also records the life experiences of those who pleased or displeased God.

We, like Joshua, have God's promise that He will be with us always.  That should give us strength to face the challenges and difficulties that inevitably arise as we seek to please Him.

Be strong! It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long;

Faint not - fight on!

Tomorrow comes the song.

When facing a crisis, trust God and move forward

Why does spiritual passion fade so easily?  When we first experience God's love, we spend hours thinking about Him, studying His Word, and telling others how much He means to us.  Then it happens,  Our busy schedules slowly dampen our passion.  Our longing for Jesus and our study of His character become an occasional glance.  Surely the object of our affection hasn't changed!.

The church at Ephesus wrestled with maintaining its spiritual passion.  Jesus, through John, wanted to help them restore and maintain their love and zeal for Him.  Although He commended this church for their work, Jesus saw that they had abandoned their firs love Him.

The Ephesians ahd lost their spiritual passion for Jesus.  It had become a cold and mechanical orthodoxy.  I wonder if they had allowed the stealthy culprit of religion and busyness to enter their hearts.  Whatever it was, something had stolen the affection they had once reserved for the Lord.

Have you allowed something to steal your passion? If so, it can be restored and maintained when you consistently remember His amazing love demonstrated at Calvary.  Repent of your sinful, unloving attitudes, and out of love for Jesus repeat your first works.

What once was iflled with wonder.  Lies cold within my heart.  Return, O Lord, that wonder, and may it not depart.

When I first head of Sara Lee cakes, the name-brand caught my attention because one of the most common Asian family names is Lee.  Then I learned that Charlie Lubin, an American bakery entrepreneur, had named his cheesecakes after his daughter Sara Lee.  Sara siad her father wanted his product to be perfect because he was naming it after me.

Perfection is a standard that none of us could ever hope to attain.  Yet we learn from Hebrews that Jesus, through His one supreme sacrifice for our sins has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

The continual sacrifieces made by the priests since the time of Moses could never change any one's sinful standing before God.  But the onetime sactifice of Christ on the cross - the sinless One dying for the sinful - perfected us forever in the yes of God.  Jesus one for all payment for our sins was sufficient.  The write to the Hebrews paraphrased Jeremiah 31:34, Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.

We are perfected forever to stand before God because of the perfect work accomplished by Jesus on the cross.  This is the assurance of our salvation.

People are supposed to call 911 for emergencies only, but many people don't understand or follow the rule.  Police emergency operators in Colorado Springs have received call from people reporting a TV set that wasn't working, asking when it was going to stop snowing, and wanting to report an identification theft while they remained anonymous.

I have often wondered if many of our prayers for help sound frivolous to God.  It's impossible to know, but there's one thing we can be assured of:  In our times of need, the Lord not only hears our cries, He is present with us.

Psalm 46 describes times of great calamity, including war and natural disasters.  Yet it is a song of trust that begins and ends with the same affirmation: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble... The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jaboc is our refuge".

The Lord is always at work accomplishing His purposes even when the world seems to be failling apart.  He tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

We don't have to fear.  When we call for help, we know that He hears and will come near.

What is man that You are mindful of him?

Psalm 8:4

The song "Who Am I?" by Mark Hall of the musical group Casting Crowns, begins: "Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt?"

In this song, Hall compares our lives to "a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow ... a vapor in the wind".  He reflects, "When we understand how small we really are and how awesome God is, then God's love beomes bigger to us.

I am reminded of David's question in Psalm 8.  When he considered the heavens, the moon, and the stars, he was amazed by the God of the universe who created them and holds them together.  In awe, he asked, "What is man that You are mindful of him?"

Why are we the object of God's love and care and thoughts?  In his song, Hall answers the question this way: "Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done; not because of what I've done, but because of who You are."

Who is God?  He is love.  What has God done?  He fave His only Son Jesus to die for us and pay the penalty for our sins (1 John 4:7-9).  No wonder we want to shout with the psalmist: "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1,9)

Father, thank You that You have made us the object of Your love.  We are amazed at Your forgiveness and grace.  Help us to see ourselves as small and to marvel at Your great love.