Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and He with me."¹

Alton Gansky, in his book, 40 Days, talks about Harry Houdini who "made a name for himself by escaping from every imaginable confinement—from straightjackets to multiple pairs of handcuffs clamped to his arms. He boasted that no jail cell could hold him. Time and again, he would be locked in a cell only to reappear minutes later."

It worked almost every time. "He accepted another invitation to demonstrate his skill. He entered the cell, wearing his street clothes, and the jail cell door shut. Once alone, he pulled a thin but strong piece of metal from his belt and began working the lock. But something was wrong. No matter how hard Houdini worked, he couldn't unlock the lock. For two hours he applied skill and experience to the lock but failed time and time again. Two hours later he gave up in frustration."²

The problem? The door wasn't locked. All he needed to do was push on it and it would have opened for him.

Now isn't that just like so many people who believe they have to earn their way into heaven through their own efforts or some man-made religion when all they need to do is believe in what God's Word, the Bible, teaches; that is, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay the penalty for all their sins, and in all sincerity confess their sinfulness to God, ask for his forgiveness, and accept his free gift of eternal life—and repent of their sinful ways and ask God for his help to live in harmony with his will.

For help to accept God's invitation to accept His gift of forgiveness and eternal life go to: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that there is absolutely nothing for me to do to enter your Heaven except to admit that I am a sinner and believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all my sins, and to ask for and accept Your forgiveness and gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV).
2. Source: Preaching Now, Vol. 6, No. 20, http://www.preaching.com/newsletter/

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