Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey

Holiness

DAY BY DAY

Jerry Bridges

Compiled by Thomas Womack

© 2008 by Jerry Bridges

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ISBN-13: 978-1-60006-396-1

Some of the anecdotal illustrations in this book are true to life and are included with the permission of the persons involved. All other illustrations are composites of real situations, and any resemblance to people living or dead is coincidental.

Italics in Scripture quotations are the author’s emphasis. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (esv) © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Other Scripture quotations are from: The Holy Bible, New International Version (niv) © 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House; New American Standard Bible (nasb) © 1960, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation; The Holy Bible, King James Version (kjv); the Amplified Bible (amp) © The Lockman Foundation 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987;. The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People, Charles B. Williams (wms) copyright 1937 by Bruce Humphries, Inc., copyright renewed 1965 by Edith S. Williams, Moody Bible Institute; and the New King James Version (nkjv). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We can begin each day with the deeply encouraging realization, I’m accepted by God, not on the basis of my personal performance, but on the basis of the infinitely perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Week 1 / Monday

Incredible Inheritance

To me … this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

(Ephesians 3:8)

Years ago our pastor told about a southern plantation owner who left a $50,000 inheritance (perhaps equivalent to half a million dollars today) to a former slave who’d served him faithfully all his life. The estate’s lawyer duly notified the old man and told him the money was deposited at a local bank.

Weeks went by, and the former slave never called for any of his inheritance. Finally, the banker called him in and told him again he had $50,000 available to draw on at any time. “Sir,” the old man replied, “do you think I can have fifty cents to buy a sack of cornmeal?”

That story illustrates the plight of many Christians today. Paul wrote of preaching “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8)—referring not to financial wealth but to the glorious truths of the gospel. It’s as if each of us has $50,000 available in the gospel, yet most of us are hoping we can squeeze ...