November 17, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Exodus - God is Gracious
Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
As we concentrate on verse nineteen we will find that God’s graciousness is based upon His will. His mercy is based upon His will. If we ponder that for a moment we will notice that God’s will is His own. Since God is creator and sustainer of all things, (Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;) you are completely under the authority and will of God, no matter who you are.
Not one single person can will himself to be saved. Not one single person can move God apart from God’s will, not one.
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. You cannot will yourself nor do anything to save yourself apart from the will of God.
Salvation is only by God’s grace and will. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Salvation is not by your own personal will to work and participate in religious liturgical rights and practices such as worshiping Mary, or saying certain prayers, or rotating beads, or going to certain places once in your life, or even getting baptized, or taking communion, or lighting incenses on statues. My friend, salvation is only by the will of God. In other words, you cannot merit, work or do anything to make God think you are a good enough to reward you with salvation.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So, what is God’s will when it comes to salvation?
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
What more did Jesus say about salvation? Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What is the gospel that one should believe?
1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
My dear friend, turn from self and sin and believe that Jesus gave Himself for you on Calvary’s cross. Believing in Jesus Christ is the will of God. When you repent and believe, then God will be gracious and have mercy upon your soul.
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
