“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14
Grace isn’t about God accepting us in our sin, it is about God delivering us from our sin.
EYE SALVE
“…Anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Revelation 3:18
A Daily Devotional by Pastor Terry Fischer
Eye Salve is a short devotional that Pastor Terry Fischer writes regularly to challenge and encourage the saints of God.
It is meant to be short and sweet and comes from his daily reading and prayer.
“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2
There is a difference between falling into sin once in a while and living in sin. Just as Jesus Himself was tempted, though He never gave into it, we are tempted too. Though we choose to live a life apart from sin, we do at times sin. Thank God for the blood of Jesus which keeps us in right standing while we are working out our salvation. It is the attitude one has toward sin that exposes the real believer from the false. The real believer hates sin and wants to be free of it, while the pretender has not shook loose from the appetite for sin.
“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 27:31
Sometimes the sea of life gets stormy. Sometimes you may feel like your boat is about to fill up with water or bust apart and sink. Don’t forget, Jesus is with you. You must stay in the ship with Him. Unless you abide in the ship with Jesus “ye cannot be saved.”
“Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” Acts 27:24
Lord, grant to us all the souls of those who sail with us in life’s sea.
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” Isaiah 58:8
Wow, is it possible that before we already show up somewhere, that our righteousness can precede us? Let it be so Lord. Let it be that no matter where we go, that no matter who sees us, they already know we are clothed in your righteousness Lord.
“Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.†Isaiah 45:14
This scripture is speaking of something that will happen in the future, more precisely it is during the millennial reign of Christ. In the meantime, since Jesus said “The kingdom of God is within you,†Let’s live such a life in the Spirit that others around us will say, “Surely God is in Thee.â€
“Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.” Isaiah 45:8
Even if you have been a believer for several decades, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded again the heavenly order. First, let hearts be open to salvation, then let righteousness spring up. The order has never changed, first is salvation then comes righteousness. Man can never through righteousness obtain salvation.
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” Isaiah 42:1-3
This prophecy is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ and His bringing salvation to the Gentiles. Praise God, for I am a Gentile, a saved one. The Spirit of God plays the major part in salvation. Verse one says that the Spirit was upon God’s servant; again that servant is the One and only Jesus Christ. It was the power of the Spirit that brought forth salvation to the Gentiles. Verse three talks about a “smoking flax.” That is what happens when a fire is about to go out. It represents a life that is soon to be snuffed out. It represents Gentile’s desperate and holding out for truth, desiring salvation, but they have not much hope left. Church, there are millions of these smoking flax people all around us. We must not let the last flicker of hope go out. The answer again is found in verse one. It is a Spirit led, Spirit filled, Spirit powered believer who can cause the fire to burn. So much of what the church offers today is worldly and fleshy and void of the Spirit. No doubt many who use worldly means to reach the lost have sincere intentions. But we must understand that it is the world that smothers the fire, it is the absence of the Spirit that deprives fuel for the fire. “Quench not the Spirit.” (I Thessalonians 5:19). The Spirit does not need our help; we need the help of the Spirit. The Spirit of God just needs someone to perform through. If we quench the Spirit there is no other way for us to “bring forth judgment unto truth.” This generation like never before needs to be confronted by a Spirit filled people. You must be one.