January 2 — His Saving Grace

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” Hosea 13:14 

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15 

The world is afraid of a hidden poison — where there is none. The real hidden poison is sin — which the Lord grants me to fear everywhere; for it has infected all things and all places. Sin is in my nature, and daily appears in my life; I will, therefore, daily look to Jesus, who has said, “Look to Me, and be saved.” Jesus alone can deliver me from the guilt, power, and consequences of sin; and it is only by faith in Him, that I can realize and enjoy this deliverance. 

Saving Grace

Unless I am saved from sin — I cannot triumph over death, or look forward to the grave without fear. The sting of death is sin. Faith in Jesus deprives death of its sting and enables the believer to sing in the prospect of death, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory.” I would fear nothing but sin, and trust for deliverance from it to no one but Jesus. 

O my Savior, Your being my all-sufficient preservative and antidote in all places, dwell in me continually and increase my faith — that I may know You, and enjoy You more and more. Take away all slavish fear of death and Hell from my soul; for You have conquered both for me.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)