<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+11:1-24">Romans 11:1-24</span></span></p><p>We continue reflecting on the meaning of grace. Illion T. Jones, a famous Welsh preacher, said that "The word 'grace' is unquestionably the most significant single word in the Bible." I agree. But it must be understood right away that grace is a characteristic of God which is exercized only toward those who are seen as having a special relationship with Him. Nowhere in the Bible is the grace of God ever mentioned in connection with humankind generally, though some theologians frequently use the term "common grace" (a term not mentioned in the Bible) - the idea that God gives a special form of grace to the whole of humankind which restrains them from being as bad as they could be. The other day I came across a writer who said: "The creation of the universe was an exercise of grace." I understand that he might have been using the word "grace" as a synonym for love (a mistake often made by Christian writers), but strictly speaking the exhibition of grace is reserved for the elect - those God foreknew would be brought into a special relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is why we must distinguish "grace" from "mercy" or "goodness," for Scripture says: "The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all his works"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+145:9">Psalm 145:9</span>, NKJV). Arthur W. Pink says: "Grace is the sole source from which flows the goodwill, love and salvation of God into His chosen people." Grace cannot be bought, earned, deserved, or merited. If it could, it would cease to be grace. Grace flows down as pure charity, "falling on the unlovable and making it lovely." Amazing!</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Yes Father, it's truly amazing! That love should stoop down to me - an undeserving, even hell-deserving sinner - such an exhibition of grace is more than I can comprehend. But I receive it nevertheless. And because of it I am saved. Hallelujah!</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+3:1-24">Romans 3:1-24</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ac+15:11">Acts 15:11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2ti+2:1">2 Timothy 2:1</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is the result of responding to God's grace?</li><li>What was Paul's exhortation to Timothy?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." (v. 5)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+6:1-11">1 Corinthians 6:1-11</span></span></p><p>In his book Conversion - Christian and Non-Christian, C. Underwood says that the future of religion lies with the religions of the East, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, where conversions seem to occur. He hears followers discussing such things as self-sacrifice and the practice of good works and labels that as spiritual conversion. When people of any religion begin to become more interested in others than in themselves, then that has to be applauded and recognized as beneficial. But that does not equate with the conversion Jesus talked about. An acquaintance of mine in India, the principal of a high school, told me of a Christian student who was given to immorality. The student was introduced to a pastor who took him aside, and after a month of deep spiritual counseling he was transformed. Several months later a Hindu student was similarly discovered to be practicing immorality. The principal of the school, hearing of this, said to one of his senior staff, a Hindu: "Tell me of a saintly Hindu that I can talk to, or an institution where there is hope of this young man being reformed." The staff member shook his head and replied: "We don't have such a thing. Hinduism can do nothing for this case. Can't you take him to one of your Christian pastors and get him to pray with him or read the Bible to him?" Here was bankruptcy confessed. I do not tell this story to put the Hindu religion in a bad light. I tell it simply to establish the fact that when other helpers fail and comforts flee, there is always Jesus. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that You and You alone are the true Savior. All other Saviors are pseudo-Saviors. Not only do You save me from sin but You save me also from sinning. I am deeply, deeply grateful. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+3:20">Romans 3:20</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+2:16">Galatians 2:16</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+2:8-9">Ephesians 2:8-9</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Why does observing the law fail?</li><li>What did Paul underline to the Ephesians?</li></ul></div></div>

"... you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (v. 11)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+76:1-12">Psalm 76:1-12</span></span></p><p>We touched yesterday on the truth that the reason why the ungodly are set in eminent places is because God arranges it. The psalmist goes on to say that not only does God raise up the ungodly, but He also brings them down: "You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed "  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+73:18-19">Psalm 73:18-19</span>). The hand that led them up to the top of the slope is the hand that also casts them down. Why does God act in this strange and mysterious manner? One reason is that God is able to demonstrate how unreliable and insecure are the ways of those who choose not to walk with Him. This explains why we so frequently read of some prominent godless person, such as a film star whom everyone is acclaiming, being suddenly removed from the face of the earth. The feet of such people were set in slippery places. Some reading these lines will remember how everyone stood in dread of Adolph Hitler. He had the whole world frightened, but now he is gone and almost forgotten. The psalmist's words "You cast them down  how suddenly are they destroyed" are really an exclamation of godly wonder at the suddenness and completeness of the sinner's overthrow. God makes a spectacle of those who persist in rejecting His love and grace. They make a splash for the moment of their lives, but after that they are gone and soon forgotten. Keep that fact before you as you look out upon the world. It may sometimes seem as if God is not in control, but in actual fact His hand is ever upon the helm of human affairs. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Gracious and loving Father, my heart bows in silent wonder as I contemplate the awesomeness of Your ways. Open my eyes that I might see that You are at work all around me and that Your face is constantly set against evil. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+1:18">Romans 1:18</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+3:19-20">Romans 3:19-20</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2ti+2:1-19">2 Timothy 2:1-19</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1pe+4:18">1 Peter 4:18</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What does the law expose?</li><li>How is God's wrath averted?</li></ul></div></div>

"Surely your wrath against men brings you praise " (v. 10) 

<p>The just shall live by faith. § Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. § The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.<br><br>Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.<br><br>By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.<br><br>We … rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.<br><br>Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. § Whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Evening Daily Light

 Noah was a just man. 

<p>Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”<br><br>Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me. § Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace.<br><br>Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. § A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. § By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight.<br><br>By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.<br><br>Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.</p>

 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">20 </sup>Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;   rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.   </span></p>

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;<cr>1</cr>  rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.<cr>2</cr> 

Romans 3:20

 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;   rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;  rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 

<p><span class="bible-text ">Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;   rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.   </span></p>

 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;   rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.  

Bible Verse of the Day

August 24, 2025

Romans 3:20 NIV

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