Life or Wrath
Posted by Karah
Pause
Ponder this quote to begin your time with God:
“You’re not adopted as God’s child until you confess and turn away from your wrongdoing and receive the freely offered gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased with his death on the cross. Until you do that, you’ll always be on the outside looking in.” —Lee Strobel
Pore over John’s words in John 3:27-36. Underline any words or phrases that show you why Jesus is so important.
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
—John 3:36
Re-read verse 36 again, then consider what this passage teaches you about what brings God’s wrath and what brings eternal life. Record your answers for each.
Wrath Eternal Life
• According to John 3:36, there is no middle ground between God’s wrath and eternal life. You can only be saved by trusting Christ. How do you sometimes find yourself trying to earn God’s favor?
Respond
Consider in what ways you still strive to avoid God’s wrath and earn His favor through your own merit or actions, rather than resting in what Christ has done:
Actions:
Words:
Thoughts:
Attitudes:
Today, instead of trying to earn God’s grace, live in thankfulness for the grace you have already received.
Behind the Story
By affirming Jesus’ identity, John explained the monumental role belief in Jesus plays in a person’s eternal destiny. Only Jesus can remove the wrath of God. Apart from Him, we have no hope of ever escaping it.
The Point
Those who have accepted Christ have received eternal life, but those who reject Him continue to live under God’s wrath.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions