Joseph Prince Devotional 14th August 2021 Saturday Message
Topic: Not Your Performance But His
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:19
Do you often feel as though God is displeased with you because you can’t seem to break out of a bad habit? Are you facing a situation that just seems impossible to overcome? Let me share Colton’s testimony with you to show you how believing in Jesus’ finished work and receiving His grace are key to receiving your breakthrough.
Since Colton was a little boy, he tried to please God by his performance and obedience. Whenever he sinned by doing or not doing something, he would feel totally condemned and depressed. He found that the more he tried to get rid of certain bad habits by self-discipline, the more he continued in them.
Right after graduation from high school, this young man from Texas received one of my books. Through reading the book, he understood that God is fully pleased with him—not based on his works, but on the perfect, finished work of Jesus at the cross.
Colton began confessing that he was still righteous in Christ through His perfect sacrifice whenever he missed the mark. The result? Listen to what he says: “I was finally able to overcome many wrong habits and attitudes. I also went from a 1.76 grade point average (GPA) in high school to a 4.00 GPA in my first semester in college. As I began to be more conscious of Jesus and not my performance, faith was just there and things that held me back fell away.”
When Colton decided to pursue further education in the field of medicine, it appeared to be an impossible situation as the tuition fee was simply unaffordable for his family. But as this brother continued to believe God and receive His grace through Christ Jesus, he began to see “obstacle after obstacle removed.” He shared happily with me, “Today, half of my tuition fee has been paid off, and Jesus is already working on clearing the rest for me!”
Beloved, God still sees you righteous even when you fail, because you are forever perfect and accepted in Christ. God judges you not based on your imperfect performance, but on the perfect performance and sacrifice of Christ. The more you believe and receive this truth, the more you will, like Colton, overcome every bad habit and receive your breakthroughs.
This devotional is adapted from the book 100 Days of Right Believing—Daily Readings from The Power of Right Believing.
If you or a loved one are facing a health issue, know that we are praying for you. We would also like to encourage you to read “How do I walk in faith and wisdom as I look to the Lord for healing?” to help you build your faith as you wait for your breakthrough.
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