Saved by grace through faith helps us to seek righteousness.

We are saved by grace through faith! As we know we don’t do works in order to be made right with God, we do works as the overflow of the love God is pouring into us. Let’s be the dads who seek to live by and in the righteousness, God is calling us to live.

Consider what we learn in Ephesians 2 about grace where it says:

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].

Ephesians 2:8-9

In essence, this verse teaches that salvation is a result of God’s unmerited favor (grace) and our belief and trust (faith) in Him. It highlights that salvation cannot be achieved through our own actions or accomplishments but is solely dependent on God’s love and mercy.

So, let’s be the dads who know the truth for the truth will set us free. Let’s grab a hold of the words from James about works and allow our faith to put us into action! Living with faith in Jesus has value and power, faith without works is expressed as useless and cannot save anyone. Therefore, let’s be the dads who allow God’s love to overflow in and through us to the point where we are able to put our faith into actions that make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Moreover, let’s allow it to overflow into our marriages as we love on our wives. Finally, let’s allow it to overflow into our families as we love on our children.

Let’s check out what James 2 has to say before we jump into today’s verse of the day to learn about grace and faith causing action:

14What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.] 15If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do? 17So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].

18But someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].” 19You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]! 20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless? 21Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]? 22You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience]. 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith]. 25In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route? 26For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.

James 2:14-26

Today’s Verse of the Day:

Firstly, let’s be the dads who are hungering and thirsting for right standing with God! Secondly, let’s be the dads who trust in God’s grace to completely satisfy us. Finally, let’s be the dads who live today blessed, joyful, and nourished by God’s goodness!

How can we apply today’s verse of the day to help us to be the dads our wives, kids, and world need us to be? How can we use it to overflow into the world around us God’s grace through actions that will touch their lives?

Applications of Mattew 5:6 on being and living out the life of the dad that God created, purposed, and planned for us to be for the sake of our wives, kids, and world:

• Prioritize Righteousness: Make the pursuit of righteousness a top priority in your life. Seek to live a life that aligns with God’s moral standards.
• Set a Righteous Example: Children often learn by observing their parents. Model righteous behavior in your daily life, both in how you treat others and in your moral choices.
• Teach Your Children: Share your knowledge of righteousness with your kids. Use everyday situations to impart valuable life lessons and teach them to hunger for righteousness as well.
• Encourage Open Dialogue: Create an environment where your children feel comfortable discussing moral and ethical questions. Answer their questions and engage in meaningful conversations about right and wrong.
• Act with Integrity: Consistently demonstrate integrity and honesty in your actions and decisions. Your children will learn the importance of righteousness by observing your character.
• Serve Others: Show your family the joy of serving others selflessly. Engage in charitable activities together, and involve your kids in acts of kindness.
• Practice Forgiveness: Teach your children the value of forgiveness and reconciliation. Help them understand that righteousness involves not only doing right but also forgiving those who wrong us.
• Be a Peacemaker: As a father, strive to promote peace and unity in your family and community. Encourage reconciliation and conflict resolution skills among your children.
• Pray Together: Include spiritual practices in your family life. Praying together as a family can deepen your hunger for righteousness and strengthen your bond.
• Share God’s Grace: Show love and grace to your family and those around you. Let your actions be a reflection of God’s love, and use opportunities to share the gospel and the message of grace.

1. Prioritize Righteousness: Make the pursuit of righteousness a top priority in your life. Seek to live a life that aligns with God’s moral standards.
2. Set a Righteous Example: Children often learn by observing their parents. Model righteous behavior in your daily life, both in how you treat others and in your moral choices.
3. Teach Your Children: Share your knowledge of righteousness with your kids. Use everyday situations to impart valuable life lessons and teach them to hunger for righteousness as well.
4. Encourage Open Dialogue: Create an environment where your children feel comfortable discussing moral and ethical questions. Answer their questions and engage in meaningful conversations about right and wrong.
5. Act with Integrity: Consistently demonstrate integrity and honesty in your actions and decisions. Your children will learn the importance of righteousness by observing your character.
6. Serve Others: Show your family the joy of serving others selflessly. Engage in charitable activities together, and involve your kids in acts of kindness.
7. Practice Forgiveness: Teach your children the value of forgiveness and reconciliation. Help them understand that righteousness involves not only doing right but also forgiving those who wrong us.
8. Be a Peacemaker: As a father, strive to promote peace and unity in your family and community. Encourage reconciliation and conflict resolution skills among your children.
9. Pray Together: Include spiritual practices in your family life. Praying together as a family can deepen your hunger for righteousness and strengthen your bond.
10. Share God’s Grace: Show love and grace to your family and those around you. Let your actions be a reflection of God’s love, and use opportunities to share the gospel and the message of grace.