One-Year Bible, ‘Give-Away’ Week

Just a reminder that this week I’m giving away two copies of the One-Year Bible for Women. If you leave a comment somewhere on this blog before Friday midnight (April 2), you’ll be entered in the drawing.

In yesterday’s blog, I shared how The One-Year Bible almost DIDN’T come into being.  It’s an amazing story.  If you’d like to read about it, click here.

After the One-Year Bible had been out for a while, Tyndale began a new line of One-Year Devotion books.  Over the next few days, I’m going to feature a few devotionals from some of those books . . .

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  Luke 4:18-19

When Jesus taught in his hometown, he chose to read a passage from Isaiah’s prophecy (see Isaiah 61), demonstrating salvation’s balance between grace and truth.  Since we moms desire to point our children to Christ, it’s good for us to think about the balance ourselves:

1. The truth is that we’re all poor, but the grace is that God has given us his riches.

2. The truth is that on our own we’re all prisoners to sin, but the grace is that there is freedom in Christ.

3. The truth is that left to ourselves we are spiritually blind, but the grace is that God can give us sight.

4. The truth is that we are oppressed, but the grace is that by faith in Jesus’ death for us, we can be released from oppression.

Imagine a poor orphan child discovering that his parents had left a special bank account for all his needs.  Image a child locked up in a room but then being freed by the one person who had the key.  Imagine a child being chased by a bully until the police officer arrested the bully.  We are all that child!

The truth is that we’re very needy, but the grace is that Jesus loved us so much that he provided for our needs when he died on the cross.  God’s salvation makes us very rich.

Father,

Thank you for the best gift in the world – the gift of salvation through Jesus’ blood.  Thank you that when we place our faith in you, you bless us with spiritual riches, freedom, sight, and release from oppression.  Amen.

Taken from One Year Devotions for Moms, copyright 2005.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, IL 60188.  All rights reserved.

Tomorrow, I’ll include a devotional from One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard.

Blessings,

Ellen