Today’s Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life.”

The practice of putting off sinful attitudes and actions and putting on Christ-like character involves a constant series of choices. We choose in every situation which direction we’ll go. Through these choices we develop Christ-like habits of living. Habits are developed by repetition, and it’s in the arena of moral choices that we develop spiritual habit patterns.

We see this in Romans 6:19: “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (NIV). The more the Roman believers sinned, the more they were inclined to sin. They were continually deepening their habit patterns of sin simply through their practice of making sinful choices.

What was true of them can be just as true of us today. Sin tends to cloud our reason, dull our consciences, stimulate our sinful desires, and weaken our wills. Because of this, each sin we commit reinforces the habit of sinning and makes it easier to give in to that temptation the next time.

Paul wanted the Roman believers, and us today, to turn in the other direction and develop habits of godly living: “so now offer [the parts of your body] in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (Romans 6:19, NIV). Righteousness in this passage refers to the ethical righteousness —the right conduct—we’re to practice every day. Whereas righteousness in this verse refers to our conduct, holiness refers to our character. So it’s through righteous actions that we develop holy character. Holiness of character is developed one choice at a time as we choose to act righteously in each and every situation and circumstance we encounter during the day. (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)

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Today’s Scripture: Revelation 2:10

“Be faithful unto death.”

For growing in faithfulness, the first step is to acknowledge the biblical standard. Faithfulness entails absolute honesty, utter dependability, and unswerving loyalty. It’s to be like Daniel: neither corrupt nor negligent. Develop convictions consistent with this standard based on the Word of God, and plan to memorize one or more verses on the topic of faithfulness.

Second, evaluate your life with the aid of the Holy Spirit and perhaps a spouse or close friend. Do you seek to be scrupulously honest? Can others depend on you even when it’s costly? Will you stick by your friend when he’s in difficulty, and confront him in love when he’s wrong?

Continue reading The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Growing in Faithfulness →

Today’s Scripture: 1 John 3:16

“He laid down his life for us.”

The law of God set forth in Scripture is a transcript of God’s own moral nature. It’s the law that was fully imprinted on Adam’s heart as part of his being created in God’s image. It’s the same law that the apostle Paul said is still written on people’s hearts regardless of how obscured it may now be (Romans 2:12-16). It’s a universal law applicable to all people of all times.

The apostle Paul was referring to this universal moral will of God when he wrote that Christ was “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Jesus was born under the law because he came to perfectly obey it in our place. He came to do what we, because of our sinful nature, could not do.

Continue reading The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Everything for Us →