Ephesians 2:10

‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’

 DAILY READING – • John 11:1-27; 2 Chronicles 10-11; Psalm 75

The very popular song: “It Is No Secret What God Can Do” was written by Stuart Hamblen. Prior to the time he wrote the song in the 1930’s, Hamblen was a musician and radio show host. And though raised as the son of a Methodist minister from Texas, he didn’t handle his fame very well. He engaged in drinking, brawling and other destructive behaviors that landed him in jail many times.

However, this all changed in 1949 when Billy Graham appeared on Hamblen’s show to publicize his Los Angeles Crusade, which would later become a historic crusade. During the show, Billy Graham extended an invitation to Hamblen to attend the crusade. Hamblen honored the invitation and the result was that he surrendered his life to Christ.

When Hamblen’s conversion became public news, a lot of people were surprised at his transformation. He no longer drank, and even refused to advertise alcohol on his show. Later on Hamblen ran into a friend of his, the famous actor, John Wayne, who asked him about the rumor around town that he had changed his ways. In replying, Hamblen told Wayne that it was no secret what God had done for him and that God could do it for Wayne too. On hearing that, John Wayne said it sounded like a song and suggested Hamblen write a song out of it. The result was one of Hamblen’s best known songs, ‘It is No Secret What God Can Do.’  It was a crossover song that is regarded as the first to become Number 1 in the gospel, country, and pop categories. Later in life, Hamblen devoted his time to serving Christ and started a new Christian radio program titled, ‘The Cowboy Church of the Air’, which was very successful and became nationally syndicated. Indeed, it is no secret what, God can do!

As a son of a Methodist minister raised in the ways of the Lord, Hamblen missed his way. Yet in all his rascality God did not forget nor abandon him. God gave him a new beginning and brought restoration.

It is true sometimes we may miss the mark, but thank God for the blood of Jesus that is able to cleanse us from all sin and bring restoration to us. No matter how far we may stray, the blood of Jesus is always available to bring restoration to us. All we need to do is to retrace our steps and come back to the place where we missed the road and take the right turn. It’s never too late to do the right thing.

God’s gifts are without repentance. No mistake you’ve made is too much for the mercy of God. Nothing you’ve done has canceled your destiny. You can still become who God created you to be. That’s what grace is all about. That’s why it’s called ‘amazing grace.’  Christ paid the price 2,000 years ago and through His blood, cleansing and restoration has been provided for us, even when we miss the way.

Hebrews 9:13-14 says, ‘For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’ Through the power in the blood, the sin barrier between God and man is totally broken. Cleansed and restored, we can then come boldly into the presence of God. And because of the price Christ paid at Calvary today, we can celebrate the freshness of God’s grace, and the living energy of His love. And whether you are scaling the greatest mountain-tops or trudging through the deepest valleys, you have reason to celebrate every moment. Why? Because Christ lives. And because He lives, you can live also. Surely, by His grace you can face tomorrow with great hope that the very best is yet to come!

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You for Your grace that has been lavishly and abundantly made available to me. I thank You for the price of Your blood that has made been paid to give me eternal victory in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE

Your heart needs to be filled with the Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222.