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

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

"Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth … this man stands here before you whole … Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."¹

One of my favorite illustrations about "misguided faith" comes from an advertising piece put out by a business firm. On it was glued a small seed with the claim that if you have as much faith in our business as you do in this mustard seed, you will be guaranteed great results.

Some months later a customer wrote back to the company saying, "You will be interested to know that I planted your mustard seed and it is now grown into a healthy plant bearing great tomatoes!"

I wonder how many times I've been hoodwinked by a less than honest sales person or manipulated by false advertising. I guess most of us have been at one time or another.

Of much greater significance is how many of us are deceived by the promoters of false religions.

Too many believe if they live a good life that will get them into heaven. Others, like I once did, believe that if they do enough good things to outnumber the bad things they've done, that will get them into God's heaven. Others believe that as all roads lead to Rome so all religions lead to God. Not so. Such beliefs, no matter how sincere, couldn't be farther from the truth.

The religious Pharisees of Christ's day were zealots in their sincerity but were wrongâ€"totally wrongâ€"in that they missed the very Messiah (Savior) for whom they were looking because He didn't come in the way they expected, or do what they expected Him to do.

There are many religions today, too, that have very sincere zealots and religious people who are equally as wrong even though they sincerely believe that they have THE truth!

Jesus made it clearâ€"very clearâ€"that He was the only way to God. "I am the way, the truth, and the life," Jesus stated emphatically. "No one comes to the Father except through Me."²

And God's Word, the Bible, affirms: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

And that name is Jesus Christ (who is the Son of the Living God). Only in Him can forgiveness of sins, salvation, and the gift of eternal life be found. Furthermore, had there been other ways to God, why on earth would Jesus have come to earth to suffer an incredibly excruciating death on the cross to pay the penalty of all your sins and mine?

The question we all need to ask ourselves, “Have I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior? To help you do this read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian� at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for Jesus and that my trust is only in Him for my eternal salvation and a home in heaven to be with You forever. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Acts 4:10, 12 (NKJV).
2. John 14:6 (NKJV).

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