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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Exodus 31:13
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.’”
Some time ago, I visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The experience was very moving. As we took in the sights, I tried to imagine the emotions of the immigrants as they saw Lady Liberty after weeks at sea. What were they thinking and feeling as they walked up the steps to enter the immigration building on Ellis Island and begin the process of becoming citizens of their new country? These were special people who, with little or no money, made their way in a new land.
When it comes to our relationship with God, no person can make his or her own way. We are sinners to the core, and our best effort on our best day is far below God’s perfect standard. We can’t pull ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps because when it comes to a relationship with God, we have no spiritual boots!
Only God can make us holy. Maybe that has been one of your struggles. You have been trying to make yourself good enough for God. Good luck with that. But here’s the good news – Jesus came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus died for our sins so that through our trust in Him, we could be made holy. Jesus walked in our boots and pulled us up by His sacrifice on the cross. Trust in Him as the One – the only One – who makes you holy.
Father, thank you for sending your Son. I pray for the person trying to make themselves good enough for you. I pray that you will help them see the futility of their efforts. I pray that they will trust in Jesus today as the One who makes them holy. In His name. Amen.
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Read through the Bible this year:
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Today on The Journey Broadcast:
Seeing Statue of Liberty for the first time was indescribable full of joy and feelings of freedom.