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Seeking God's Reward - Protestant Caucus/Devotional
Gracetoyou.org ^ | 1993 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 11/12/2023 4:00:11 AM PST by metmom

"He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life.

We've seen that without faith it's impossible to please God. And the first step in faith is believing that God exists. In addition, we must also believe that He answers our prayers—more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in faith.

Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found, but also desires to be found. David said to his son Solomon, "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever" (1 Chron. 28:9). The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jesus said, "Everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened" (Luke 11:10).

At first glance those verses may seem to contradict Paul's teaching that "there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside" (Rom. 3:11-12), and Jesus' statement that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). But really they're two sides of the same theological coin.

On one side you see man believing God and receiving Christ for salvation. On the other you see God enabling man to do so. Prior to salvation, a person is spiritually dead and utterly incapable of responding to the gospel. God must grant him or her saving faith. That's why the Bible contains statements like, "To you it has been granted for Christ's sake . . . to believe in Him" (Phil. 1:29); "As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48); and "The Lord opened [Lydia's] heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14).

God is the Great Rewarder, extending His love and grace to all who call upon Him. "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed" (Rom. 10:11).

Suggestions for Prayer

If you've been praying for someone's salvation, don't become discouraged. Only God can grant saving faith, but He gives us the privilege of participating in His redemptive work through faithful prayer and evangelism (Rom 10:1).

For Further Study

Memorize Ephesians 2:8-9.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

1 posted on 11/12/2023 4:00:11 AM PST by metmom
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To: Alex Murphy; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; ealgeone; Elsie; Gamecock; HossB86; Iscool; ...

Studying God’s Word ping


2 posted on 11/12/2023 4:00:37 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: metmom

I’m so thankful God gave us faith. It’s scary to think of where I’d be today without it.

Prayer Of Faith In The Cross Of Christ

Heavenly Father, how I praise and glorify You for loving a fallen sinner such as I so much, that You sent Your only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to go through the door of death so that I could be given full and free access to the gates of heaven, by grace through faith in Him. I wholeheartedly place my faith in You Lord Jesus, and worship and praise You with my spirit, soul and body for coming to earth as a man and paying the price for my sins.

When I came to understand that by rights I deserved a death sentence that You willingly took in my stead, and that the eternal Son of God was sent to earth by the Father, because there was no one else that was good enough to pay the price for sin, it blows me away.

Lord, I know that there is nothing that I can do to add to Your finished work on the cross, but I pray that by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, I may present my life as a living sacrifice and thank offering to You, for Your goodness and grace to me, a sinner saved by God’s grace. May I never forget the great price that You paid for my sins and give me I pray, a heart to love You more and a faith that stands firm in the truth of Your Word. This I ask in the name of Jesus Christ my Saviour,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-of-faith-in-the-cross-of-christ-1261


3 posted on 11/12/2023 5:08:29 AM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: ViLaLuz

Amen 🙏🏻!


4 posted on 11/12/2023 5:10:42 AM PST by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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