WBC Daily Devotions August 2-6

Daily Devotions for August 2-6

MONDAY, AUGUST 2

As we conclude our series on the five "solas" (or "onlys") of the Reformation, this week we'll take a few moments to review everything we have covered so far.

The first of the five rallying cries of the Reformation was "Sola Scriptura," or "Only Scripture." Christ-followers were implored to set their entire lives underneath a single authority-the Bible. Not the church. Not sacred tradition. Just the Bible. The Bible, they claimed, was more important than anything else, and to be obeyed above and beyond anything else. Instead of playing a supporting role to the church and tradition, the Bible was to stand alone as the ultimate authority in life.

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

For many of us, we affirm the concept of "Only Scripture" with our mouths, but what is revealed in our lives? We warmly receive this on Sunday morning, but what impact does it have on us come Monday morning? We claim that the Bible is our most treasured possession, but what would an audit of our time reveal about its true value for us?

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3

The second rallying cry was "Only Grace." Jesus has made known to us the grace of God, the redemption that we could never achieve or earn or merit by ourselves. He alone was able to conquer death. He alone was capable of restoring us into relationship with God the father. While we were stumbling around in darkness, He brought us into the light.

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known" (John 1:16-18).

The problem is that although we have all been recipients of God's grace at one point or another in our lives, we all too quickly forget about it, resting comfortably in our new-found friendship with God. Unfortunately, this freedom to approach the throne can lead to apathy and laziness in our spiritual lives. Our zeal for the Lord waxes and wanes according to the ups and downs of our daily lives. Our passion for His word comes and goes depending on whether we feel as if we have enough time or energy.

Against all this we have to remind ourselves constantly that our righteousness is not our own, it is imparted to us by God through Jesus Christ. In fact, it cost Jesus His very life. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). How should we then live? Has our pursuit of God drifted off into the realm of "spiritual matters" that we'll get to when we have enough time? Or is a life lived in service to the King of Kings the driving force behind every single thing that we do in this life?

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4

The third "only" was "Only Faith." This referred to the way in which we received the grace of God. We don't earn anything or deserve anything. We receive salvation by faith. Read Ephesians 2:1-10.

Biblical faith means putting our full trust and hope in a person. When we talk about faith, we are talking about trusting Jesus with absolute commitment.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
       fear the LORD and shun evil.
(Prov. 3:5-7)

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
(Deut. 6:4-9)

Don't let the world reduce your concept of faith into something vague and wishy-washy. Instead, seize upon the person and work of Jesus Christ and pursue Him with every fiber of your being. Total trust. Absolute certainty. The end of us, the beginning of Him.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5

The fourth "only" of the Reformation was "Only Christ." What could be more basic than that, right? Currently there is intense cultural pressure to play down the unique claims of Jesus Christ. These are offensive to most people, and Bible-believing Christians will face ostracism for being close-minded and intolerant. While we are called to love and respect other people, we cannot give up any ground on this central issue of our faith. There is only one savior, and His name is Jesus. As Paul would say to Timothy:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle-I am telling the truth, I am not lying-and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. (1 Tim 2:1-7)

Read Colossians 1. There is only one way to be saved, and that is through the person of Jesus Christ. But this "only" goes further still. It reminds us that Jesus is all we need. The work He did was totally and fully sufficient to achieve what God demanded. Nothing else was needed then and nothing else is needed now.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6

The last "only" in some ways summarizes all the others: "Only for the glory of God." Everyone looks for meaning and purpose in life. Why are we here? Why is there so much gratuitous beauty? Why is there joy? Why did God go through so much work to save us? Ultimately all things come back to God. He alone is the creator and sustainer of all things. He set this world in motion and He is working to bring all things together at the end.

Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. Read Isaiah 43:1-7. Glorifying God is the reason we were created to begin with. It is His honor and beauty and majesty that we are to seek at all times and in all things.

As you reflect back over these five "onlys" - what has been most convicting for you? Where have you been encouraged? Which verses have challenged you to think differently about your faith and the ways in which you worship God?

Jonathan Ziman
Community Life Pastor

Wheaton Bible Church
27W500 North Avenue
West Chicago, IL 60185
630.260.1600
www.wheatonbible.org