Nail It Down

Wednesday, ‎October ‎19, ‎2022

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Today's reading: ISAIAH 56-58 2 THESSALONIANS 2

Nail It Down

These 'devotionals' are written to encourage folks in their life of devotion to Christ-to ask the questions like,

"How devoted are you to Christ?"-

or "Do you really want to grow a deeper relationship with Jesus?"

These are written to challenge folks to grow and aid in that growth if even in the slightest manner.

While doing this, it would be a big mistake to not write occasionally to those who have not placed their faith in Christ-to help them 'nail it down'.

Let's first look at the person most qualified to actually 'drive a nail'. Most framing carpenters today have hammers, yes, but the use of hammers is limited. They use air-powered nail guns or rechargeable nail guns. The folks who build concrete forms(framework into which concrete is placed) use hammers and 'hand-drivers'(regular nails) so they can remove the nails when the forms are removed. All these folks can drive nails. Most other folks can try to drive nails but find they miss the nail or bend the nail-they are not 'nail drivers'.

Since most of us could not 'drive' a nail very well, we should go to someone who knows better than most how nails feel in the hand.

Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

Acts 2:23 this Man(Jesus), delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

It is safe to say that Jesus knew what a nail felt in the hand. As a child, his father taught him his trade as was the custom of the time and as an adult Jesus was called a carpenter. Then,eventually, Jesus was actually nailed to a Roman cross to kill him.

Jesus did this to give us eternal life.

John 10:28 ►I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand

Jesus challenges and charges all of us:

John 21:19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

God speaks through the writer of Romans and tells us how to respond to Christ:

Romans 10:9 ►If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Then, in 1 John 1:9 ►If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

By this, we are set free:

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Now, folks need to 'nail' this down in their own lives or those who already believe need to take this message to those who do not.

But if you have never driven a nail you need someone who knows nails...

If you can drive a nail, you need to trust the 'master carpenter' to nail this down for you. Why? Trust.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Jesus held nails, whatever they looked like at the time; Jesus was good with a hammer and nails, he was a carpenter; nails also held the hands of Jesus to the cross.

Jesus knows nails. For the doubts that arise from time to time, and they will, let Jesus nail this down for you.

Maybe you have never taken that step of placing your faith in Christ-no one can do this for you-you must do this with God alone. Let Christ nail this down for you-He knows nails.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

You must be the one who makes my heart and mind sure. Forgive me for trusting in someone or something else.

Great carpenter and great God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen