Network Leeds : His Grace is Sufficient

25 September, 2011
Today's Free Devotional from Ellel Ministries International
A lesson from Pelagius

"Are you so foolish? After beginning with The Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"
Galatians 3:3, NIV
Paul did not beat around the bush when he addressed the Galatian believers. They were making a grave mistake. Having started off right by believing in the grace of God they were starting to change their course. They were trying to maintain a good standing with God through their own efforts – an impossibility with God, which Paul called foolish!
The fact is it’s easy for us to repeat their error. It’s so tempting to rely on our own efforts - even if it’s only a little bit- for being right with God! Paul’s warnings are as relevant for us today as they were for the Christians back then. The problem with allowing any room for our own merits is the truth that ‘A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough’ (Galatians 5:9). When we start to rely just a little bit on our own efforts to stay holy or to be righteous, then this will start to work its way through the whole of our lives. The inevitable result is that we end up increasingly losing sight of God’s grace.
Quite recently I realised how easy it is to fall into this trap. I was reading a book which traced the developments of Christian doctrine throughout history. Around the fourth Century a man named Pelagius arose, who opposed Augustine’s teachings on free will and grace. In essence Pelagius laid a strong emphasis on our role as individuals to choose to be saved, whereas Augustine had emphasised God’s grace in choosing us and in giving us the grace to believe in Jesus.
Sadly the teachings of Pelagius gained ground in the western Church and allowed more and more room for human merit. Things got so bad one could even ‘purchase’ one’s way into heaven! But finally the Reformers came along and convinced the Church of the all-important grace of God. John Calvin said “The Gospel rules out any thing that man might add.” How true!
If we have in any way tried to add to Jesus’ work on the cross, by seeking to be righteous through our own efforts, let’s ask God for our own personal reformation! Let’s ask God to bring us back to the freedom and joy of relying only on His grace. For His grace is sufficient!
Prayer: Father, I ask You to forgive me for trying to be righteous in my own strength instead of wholly depending on Jesus. Please help me to be completely dependent on Your grace. I thank You that Your grace is enough for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Today's Writer : Peter Brokaar Peter Brokaar and his American wife, Liz, left the Netherlands in 2005 to join the team at Ellel Scotland. He is now Assistant Director and House Manager and finds much pleasure in teaching. He has three children, Emma, Samuel and Benjamin, all born on Scottish soil. When there is any free time he enjoys reading, cooking, surfing and hiking.

Copyright © 2011 Ellel Ministries International.
You are receiving this devotional message because you have signed up to receive daily devotionals from Ellel Ministries International at www.seedsofthekingdom.org
Our mailing address is:
Ellel Ministries International Ellel Grange Bay Horse Lancaster, Lancashire LA2 0HN
Add us to your address book

unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

(Author: )

See feedback for this article

Articles in this group

Archived Devotionals
egwe (Author: Karen Williams - Network Leeds)

Do Not Worry
"So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34, NLT (Author: )

Beware of back-seat drivers!
"The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil had done." 1 John 3:8b, GNB (Author: )

Treasure in clay pots
"We possess this precious treasure, the divine Light of the Gospel, in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4: 7, Amp (Author: )

The 'Wave' Prayer
"But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted." Matthew 14:30, NLT (Author: )

God is in control
A man from Norfolk, Virginia called his local radio station to share this on September 11th, 2003, two years after the tragedies of 9/11/2001. His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words. (Author: )

Not Just Outward Appearances
"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs- beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. .. (Author: )

A Lesson From the Spider`s Web
"Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8, NIV (Author: )

Jesus is the cornerstone
"This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone." Acts 4:11, ESV (Author: )

Living under Full Power
"For this reason we also...pray for you...that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:9-10, NKJV (Author: )

What Are You Waiting For?
"Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on the water.’ ‘All right, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus." Matthew 14: 28-29, NLT (Author: )

Blessing and offence
"Blessed is the one who takes no offence at me..." Luke 7:23, RSV (Author: )

Obstructions or Opportunities
“And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” Luke 8:45, NKJV (Author: )

A New Identity
"O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires." Isaiah 54:11, KJV (Author: )

Loss
"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." Proverbs 24:16, NIV (Author: )

Put My tears in Your Bottle
"Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" Psalm 56:8, NKJ (Author: )

Waiting for God`s guidance
"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him." Psalm 37:7, NIV (Author: )

Are You Jesus?
A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales conference in Chicago. It ended later than they had expected... (Author: )

What's In a Name? Your Name?
Buddy Bear. Apple. Princess Tiaamii. Monroe and Moroccan. The spate of unusual celebrity baby names can’t have entirely passed you by, even if you’re not an avid gossip mag reader. (Author: )

Wrestling with God - daily devotional
kljkl (Author: )

Passivity - Daily Devotional
ssda (Author: )

Children of God - daily devotional
few (Author: )

Moses – The Come Back Kid!
4y34 (Author: )

Angels - Devotional
vdgwe (Author: )

Unless the Lord Builds the House - daily devotional
egwe (Author: )

A Quick Devotional - re: Work + God.
devotional (Author: )

Faithful and Wise servant - daily devotional
tgetye4 (Author: )

If you are not a Christian - a message of love
sdsbgsd (Author: )

Daily Devotional - The Narrow Path (1)
fegwe (Author: )

God’s Alarm Clock Sending a Wake-up Call by Ron Hutchcraft
God’s Alarm Clock Sending a Wake-up Call by Ron Hutchcraft (Author: )

Seeds of the Kingdom: I Will Guide You - daily devotional
gwer (Author: )