LOOK TO JESUS!
In Romans 4:1, the Apostle Paul asked the question, “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?” What he means by “the flesh” is anything that man relies upon in the matter of his salvation, such things as nationality, circumcision, baptism, confirmation, church membership, born to Christian parents, good person, etc.
What about you? Are you trusting in something other than or besides Jesus Christ to save you? Are you looking to your baptismal certificate or your church membership? Maybe you think you are a good person, you do not steal, murder, or commit adultery, and you deal fairly with your neighbor. Maybe you think God is going to save you because you attend church every Sunday and read your Bible a few times a week or put a few dollars into the offering plate? Are you trusting in the flesh, or do you trust in Jesus Christ? Jesus said, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:23).
Dear friend, there’s no work you or I can do that will make us righteous in the sight of God. Not baptism, not catechism, not confirmation, not church membership, not church attendance, or Bible reading, nothing we do can save us! The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 62 states, “But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God? Because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment seat of God must be perfect throughout and entirely conformable to the divine law, but even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.”
Paul demonstrates in Romans 4:9-12 that even Abraham’s circumcision merited him nothing. Man will never be declared righteous before God by what he does, and anyone who attempts to make himself righteous before God by their efforts is under the curse. Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” There is only one hope, and His name is Jesus. The name Jesus is a transliteration from the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “Jehovah salvation.” Therefore, look to Jesus! “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man (Jesus) is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).
Tuesday Encouragement: July 21, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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A CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and My God,
As I read Your Word, I am humbled by the magnificence of Your self-revelation.
You are sovereign, holy, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, gracious, loving, kind, glorious, merciful, self-dependent, eternal, and the only glorious Potentate, etc., etc.
You have ordained all things that happen in this world, and even the free choices of men are under Your power, authority, and governance.
O Lord, "this knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it" (Psalm 139:6).
Simply stated, O God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, One in essence and Three in person, You are Awesome in Your being and attributes!
I am in awe and wonder of You, O Lord! I worship You! I love You! I desire You!
I am amazed that You would love, redeem, and be gracious and merciful to a wretched sinner such as I.
I have broken all Your commandments in thought, word, and deed! I have kept none of them.
I am sinful, and You are holy, but yet you redeemed me by Jesus' blood and righteousness, and You are sanctifying me by the Holy Spirit.
Continue Your wondrous work within me; continue to change my heart, O God, make me more like Jesus!
O Father, I am humbled that You would love and care about a worm like me.
As David wrote in Psalm 22:6, "But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people."
I am so sinful, fragile, stupid, dull, and ignorant of so much of Your character and being, and yet You love me!
I am worthy of Your just wrath and everlasting damnation, yet in a marvelous wonder of Your grace and mercy, You forgave me and covered me with the righteous robes of Jesus!
And as I daily confess my sins to You, You daily forgive me in a relational sense since I am in Christ Jesus, am a child of God, am a member of the household of faith, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! I am speechless!
O Jesus! Help me! Because of remaining indwelling sin, "I am so prone to wander, Lord I feel it.
Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."
Forgive me, Lord, for my dullness in worship, laziness in prayer, slowness in reading Your Word, sluggishness in praising Your name, and lethargy in serving You and Your church!
Forgive me for my remaining rebellion; make me obedient!
Forgive me for the lust in my heart; make me faithful!
Forgive me for the remaining sinful hatred in my soul; make me loving!
Forgive me for my lack of patience with others; make me long-suffering!
Forgive me for sinning against You, my brothers and sisters in Christ, my neighbors, and even my enemies.
Forgive me for being unkind, unloving, ungracious, unmerciful, and for nitpicking others.
Make me kind, loving, gracious, merciful, and cause me to strive to cover the trivial things of life.
Forgive me for being impudent and uncaring, indifferent and indolent towards holy things; revive me, O Lord.
Holy Spirit, mold, shape, teach, guide, and direct me in all my thoughts, words, and ways to be like my loving Savior Jesus!
Humble me when I obey, discipline me when I go astray, uphold me by Your omnipotent power.
Keep me from sinning against You. Keep me on the straight and narrow path.
Don't let me stray from Your Word.
Don't let me be like the washed sow that returns to the mud!
Eliminate every opportunity to sin against You and against my fellow human beings.
Grant me greater wisdom to discern Satan's tactics and devices!
Help to keep putting on the full armor of God.
Revive me, Holy Spirit; rekindle the fire of holiness in my soul.
Grant me Your power to preach and zeal to evangelize.
Make me faithful to Jesus and His glory and the good of His church!
Cause me to decrease and Christ to increase!
Use me up for Christ, who is my Good Shepherd, Savior, Deliverer, Burden-Bearer, King, Lord, and Friend.
In Christ's name I pray!
Amen!
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