If I asked you to bring me 25 quarters, what would you think I meant? A chef asked one of his kitchen helpers to get 25 quarters for him, but the man came back with $6.25 — exactly 25 quarters — in change.

When the young man returned to the chef, the chef scolded him, “No, I didn’t want 25 quarters. I wanted 25 quarter-chickens.” He got just what he asked for, but nothing he wanted, because he didn’t make himself clear.

When we tell people they have to give their hearts to Jesus or turn from their sins to be saved, we may get what we ask for, but we won’t get the results we wanted because we’re not being clear. How can a person, especially a child, understand what it means to give his heart to Jesus? One time a soul winner asked a child if he was ready to do this, and the child said he wouldn’t do it. When the soul winner asked why, the little boy said, “Because I need it.”

Telling people to turn from all known sins causes a similar problem. How can a person know if he has turned enough? What if he turns from his present sins, only to turn to a different sin later?

I realize that the people who say these things mean well, but if we want people to be saved, we ought to think about how they will interpret our instructions. We don’t want to be held responsible for misleading others. The Bible simply says we are to believe in Jesus Christ, so that’s what we should tell people.

Is there someone you’ve been trying to lead to Christ? You don’t have to say it like anybody else. Just tell them what the Bible says. Personally, I like to use verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 11:6. Find your own favorites and share them. God promises to bless the gospel. Let’s be sure to tell it like it is.

If you want to learn an effective way to “tell it like it is,” click here.

The gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst. — D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

Shivering in the frosty December air, three World War II soldiers sat huddled by a dwindling fire.  Uncertain of their fate, they called the chaplain and asked, “How can we know for sure that we’re going to Heaven?”

“I will give you a test,” replied the chaplain. “The answers are yes or no. 1. Have you always loved God above all else?  2. Have you ever misused God’s name?” The chaplain continued questioning them until he reached question number 10.

“What kind of score do I need to make it to Heaven?” asked one of the soldiers solemnly.

“100%.”

The soldiers looked anxiously at one another. 

“Since all men are sinners less perfect than God, you have to accept by faith the gift of Christ’s perfect righteousness,” stated the chaplain.

Have you ever wondered if you were good enough to get to Heaven? Do you feel that if you live a good life you might be able to make it there? In Ephesians 2:8, 9 we are told that we are saved by God’s grace, not by our works. All we have to do to be saved is believe on Him.

Perhaps like the soldiers you are uncertain about where you will go for eternity. If you simply accept the free gift of salvation, you will be in Heaven forever with Jesus. Why not accept His wonderful gift today?

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – The Apostle Paul, Romans 6:23

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

There are some who say, “But what about the verses in James where it says ‘faith without works is dead’?” The book of James is extremely easy to understand if you see the many times the word “brethren” is listed. James was written to believers to encourage them to do works so the lost can see a difference in their lives.

James 2:21 is a verse some like to use. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” Yes, Abraham was justified by works, but the question is, before whom?  Three servants stood afar off and saw Abraham almost sacrifice his son. When they saw this, they knew in a tangible way that Abraham was a man of faith. And so in our own lives, when we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, we show others that there has been a change deep within us. But Abraham had been justified before God many years earlier, before Isaac was even born, and no works were involved there. Genesis 15:6 says, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Paul explains in Romans 4:2, “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”

Most who teach Lordship Salvation believe faith is an active commitment, a long process including obedience and discipleship. And yet the Bible says over and over that it isn’t our active commitment that gets us saved, but belief in Christ’s substitutionary payment. We can’t promise God that we’ll live for Him before we trust Christ. We are lost, we are dead in our sins, and we can’t reform ourselves.

Salvation is about what Christ did on the cross, not about what man can do. Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again to pay for your sins? Then like Abraham, you can be sure of your salvation.

Faith vs. works is the battle of the ages. Every religion adds works to salvation. Only Christianity is about what Jesus Christ did, not what we do. — Dr. James A. Scudder

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

Not too long ago on a flight from a small Minnesota town to the Twin Cities, our flight attendant made an interesting announcement. She said, “There are two passengers that are not scheduled to be on this plane. I am asking that they both disembark immediately.”

I heard a woman behind me whisper, “Oh no, they caught us!” And then I heard her husband shushing her into silence. Then the flight attendant said, “If these two people do not get off this plane immediately, we are going to have to state their names.”

About a minute passed and then I heard shuffling in the seat behind us. The two people behind us then walked off the plane.

Did you know that someday when you die, the same thing could happen to you? Instead of God letting you into Heaven, He might say, “You never believed on my Son, Jesus Christ. You never accepted His payment for your sins.”

Many people think they are going to Heaven, yet they have never examined the pages of Scripture to see if they really are. They are depending on their own good works instead of Jesus Christ.

Check out your passport to Heaven. Make sure it is in order. You might need it sooner than you think.

Check out John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Choice, not chance, determines human destiny. – Unknown Author

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

I’ve traveled all over the world and tried many different foods over the years. While some international delicacies are very good, I wouldn’t recommend eating others. A delicacy known as satay is served in Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Thailand. This dish is similar to American kabobs. Some of the meats used for this delicacy are eel, squid, horse, water buffalo, rabbit, turtle, crocodile, and snake. Are you getting hungry?

Most of us would have a hard time stomaching these foods, just as many natives of Southeast Asia have a hard time with some of the popular foods in the United States. But there’s a universal food that everybody likes, and that’s bread. As long as people have bread, they can survive.

I want to tell you about a universal message that nobody can live without—it’s the gospel. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Christ is the Bread of Life. That is good news for a world dying of spiritual hunger.

Have you shared this life-saving truth with anyone lately? You may think to yourself, It’s no use. My neighbor doesn’t care about religion. He’ll close the door in my face. Maybe you’ll have to get him hungry before he is ready to take a bite. Watch and pray for the right opportunity to share the loaf of Christ.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is news, good news: the best and most important news that any human being ever hears. — Unknown Author

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder