document.open(); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("Being a Christian
"); document.writeln("Print this page");document.writeln("
");document.writeln(""); document.writeln("

God saved"); document.writeln("you by his grace when you believed. And you cannot take credit for this, it is a"); document.writeln("gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so"); document.writeln("none of us can boast about it.1

"); document.writeln("

We have all failed"); document.writeln("at one time or another. Temptation came and we gave in. In a moment of anger,"); document.writeln("we said things we cannot take back. We allowed other things in our life to take"); document.writeln("priority, and we put God on the backburner. In times of weakness, it is common"); document.writeln("for others to criticize or judge our behavior because we are Christians. Many"); document.writeln("people will place unrealistic expectations on Christians, which makes us"); document.writeln("believe that to be worthy of this title, we must strive for perfection."); document.writeln("However, as the verse above says, we were saved by the grace of God. Nothing we have"); document.writeln("done or will do gave us the right to earn this. It is a gift from God which we"); document.writeln("have access to only through Jesus Christ. I read the following poem and thought"); document.writeln("it appropriate to share.

"); document.writeln("

 

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian

"); document.writeln("

 

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian, I do not"); document.writeln("speak of this with pride.

"); document.writeln("

I am confessing that I stumble and need"); document.writeln("someone to be my guide.

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian, I am not"); document.writeln("trying to be strong,

"); document.writeln("

I am professing that I am weak and pray"); document.writeln("for strength to carry on.

"); document.writeln("

 

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian, I am not"); document.writeln("bragging of success,

"); document.writeln("

I am admitting that I have failed and"); document.writeln("cannot ever pay the debt.

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian, I am not"); document.writeln("claiming to be perfect,

"); document.writeln("

my flaws are way too visible, but God"); document.writeln("believes I am worth it.

"); document.writeln("

 

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian, I still"); document.writeln("feel the sting of pain.

"); document.writeln("

I have my share of heartaches which is"); document.writeln("why I seek His Name.

"); document.writeln("

When I say\'€¦ I am a Christian, I do not"); document.writeln("wish to judge.

"); document.writeln("

I have no authority, I only know I am"); document.writeln("loved!2

"); document.writeln("

Before we came"); document.writeln("to Christ, we were all sinners. This is exactly why God sent Jesus to die on"); document.writeln("the cross and pay the price for our sin. God knew that we would never be able"); document.writeln("to pay this penalty on our own. He knows we are not perfect and that we will"); document.writeln("stumble and fall. We will never be strong enough to carry the burdens of this"); document.writeln("life alone, and that is why we are Christians! We have accepted that we are"); document.writeln("weak and need the Savior. By His grace we can continue growing in faith and"); document.writeln("move forward one step at a time. The next time someone criticizes or judges you"); document.writeln("for not being a perfect Christian, do not let it discourage you, but"); document.writeln("rather let it motivate you to seek Christ and encourage you to be more like"); document.writeln("Him.

"); document.writeln("

Suggested"); document.writeln("prayer: Dear God, you know my imperfections and struggles, yet you love me"); document.writeln("anyway. There is nothing I have done or could ever do to earn your love. Thank"); document.writeln("you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and giving me the gift of"); document.writeln("Salvation. Help me seek you more fervently every day. In the name of Jesus, amen.

"); document.writeln("
  1. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT).
  2. © 1998 Carol S. Wimmer.
"); document.writeln("

 

"); document.writeln("

Today\'€™s"); document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Crystal B.

"); document.writeln("
"); document.writeln("

"); document.writeln("

This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.

Copyright © 1990 - 2026
ACTS International

"); document.writeln("
"); document.close();