Yesterday, I talked about how most mornings I read a few devotionals and Bible verses; I write the pertinent points in my journal; and then I get down and have a conversation with the Lord;  and when I listen, He tells me how the passages fit together. So . . . today—

MAX (Lucado) says: Psalm 37:23-24 reminds us the steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall, it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand.  It’s essential you understand this— God’s grace is greater than your failures!

OSWALD (Chambers) says: We are saved by what Jesus did on the cross. Not by what we do. Not because we are sorry for our sins or because we repent, but because of God’s grace, we are justified. Because we recognize that it applies to us. [and accept the gift of Christ’s atonement.]

CHARLES (Stanley) says: Paul’s life demonstrates what it means to give Jesus first place. Because the apostle made Christ the Lord of his life (Gal. 2:20), he knew joy amid trials and received the strength to face turmoil and difficulty. These blessings will also be ours when we give highest priority to our relationship with Jesus.

ALISTAIR (Begg) says: we are the chosen, the elect, by God’s grace.

Bible Gateway: “For, All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”  1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV

You know that these passages require no illumination or commentary.  They’ll do just fine alone. But these things made me think about something Brennan Manning said in the first part of his book Ragamuffin Gospel.  I can’t find my copy right this minute, but he said something like this, “When we all get to heaven, and we’re all praising God that we finally made it, the people standing in the front row before God’s throne will be the prostitutes, the tax collectors and all the other ne’er-do-wells who never lived up to the world’s standards; but who, because they had nowhere else to go, were willing to accept the gift of God, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.” (my paraphrase).  What a revelation!