[Membersandfriends] Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Mon Dec 13 22:02:31 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Tuesday, December 14, 2004

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The Upper Room Living Prayer Center

The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by Christian volunteers. Submit prayer requests online or call and speak to one of our volunteers at 1-800-251-2468 (U.S. and Canada) or 615-327-4673 (International).
http://www.upperroom.org/prayer_center
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NO NEED TO REPAY
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Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

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By grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
-- Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
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ONE evening I needed my friend Vicki to take me to the emergency room.  Once at the hospital, Vicki secured my doctor's instructions, answered questions for me, and found me a wheelchair.  I was finally admitted into the hospital at three o'clock the next morning; Vicki drove 25 miles home by herself.

I wanted to do something to repay her for helping me, but she wouldn't let me; she said it wasn't necessary.  It may not have been necessary, but it would have made me feel better about needing and asking for her help.  It is hard to accept someone's help without repaying the favor.  Is that why it is hard to accept God's saving grace?  

God offers life everlasting; all we have to do is accept the gift.  We are not expected to repay God as we might try to repay a friend.  Still, when we realize what a tremendous gift we have received from God, we want to please the Giver.  We can do that by telling others about the gift and spreading the word of its availability to all people.

Prayer:   Loving God, help us to open our hearts and receive all you want to give us.  Then help us to show others your love and grace.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we accept God's grace and love, we have joy to share.

-- Judy Bloodgood Bander (Virginia, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Friends who haven't accepted God's gift of salvation

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RELATED READING ...

THE UPPER ROOM DISCIPLINES 2005 offers daily meditations based on the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. This annual book serves as a "portable pastor" and offers spiritual guidance throughout the year.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=182119

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.