“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/

Written by the wise 84 yr old Robert VanHoose, who writes the “Homily Grits Devotional” above:

July 14

Read John 15:1-17,
Psalm 68

                            “The Big Edge”

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”    Hebrews 4:12  (NKJV)

     Edges are the extra qualities that give us an advantage in some area of life.

    When we are given the advantage of a college education, we are given an edge in the job market. 

    Businesses thrive on getting an edge on the competition by offering more features, lower prices, or better quality.

    Coaches’ scout and view tapes of other teams, trying to find an edge to exploit. “Cutting Edge” technology is used to describe new and improved features or products that offer advantages over other similar products.

    “Edges” are often the difference between winning or losing in love, war, politics, or even life itself.

    God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to give us the “big edge” over sin, death, our flesh, the world, and forces of evil.

     When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, we receive the edge over sin and death which no longer have dominion over us.

     When we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we receive the strength to live lives fully pleasing to God that we can never live in our own strength.

     When we abide in Jesus Christ by abiding in the “big edge” of God’s Word, we will have all of the advantages of answered prayers, friendship with Jesus, and Jesus’ joy. 

     No life is worth living without the “big edge” of living life with “Christ in us, our hope of glory.”

    Father, thank you for giving me all of the advantages of abiding in you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen