Charles Stanley Daily Devotional 4 January 2026 (In Touch) Sunday Message
Charles Stanley Daily Devotional TOPIC: A Lifetime of Second Chances
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:1-6
Paul used a beautiful phrase to describe the believer’s position in Christ: “We have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand … ” (Rom. 5:2, emphasis added). This is no puddle of mercy, but rather a mighty ocean. The Lord’s kindness is endless, far greater than all of our mistakes.
Grace is an essential concept for believers to grasp: God sent Jesus to the cross to pay for our sin and now freely offers His forgiveness and favor to all. Many people misunderstand this, however—they may speak about God’s kindness as a gift, but their actions show they’re still trying to earn it. The truth is, if we have to merit or work for grace, it’s not a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).
While the Word is clear that works can’t save us (Galatians 2:16), they can be beneficial for spiritual growth and service. In fact, Christians are called upon to serve the Lord every day. From the outside, it’s usually impossible to discern someone else’s reasons for good works, but God knows the motivation of every heart.
Keep in mind that serving God in order to earn His favor or ensure that He continues blessing you amounts to trying to barter for His grace. You can do nothing to deserve the Lord’s kindness! He pours it upon believers freely, so the only thing you can “do” is receive it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 12-15
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:We can do nothing to deserve the Lord’s kindness—He freely gives it because of His great love.
Dr. Charles F. Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. Throughout his ministry, he demonstrated a keen awareness of people’s needs and provided Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life.