Good morning. Today is May 22, 2025. I remember the day the Lord called me into full-time ministry. I was a young teen sitting near the front of the church when my father gave an invitation for people to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Being such an intimate and personal moment, he would often say, “With your heads bowed and eyes closed… no one looking around…”
I would always peek.
There was something so powerful about seeing people fully surrender their lives to Jesus. That morning, it seemed like hundreds of hands went up—young and old, rich and poor. It didn’t matter who they were; God’s grace was available to all. I started to cry as I realized that truth. In that moment, I thought to myself, “I want to see this happen for the rest of my life.” That’s when I knew I was called.
Today's Reading:
1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalms 99; Romans 3
Scripture
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22–24 NIV)
Observation
Salvation through faith by grace is available to everyone. The Gospel really is good news—for all. Paul reminds us that no one is exempt from sin, but equally, no one is beyond the reach of grace. The inclusivity of the Gospel humbles us while affirming how deeply loved we are.
There’s no hierarchy at the foot of the Cross. Whether you’ve grown up in church or walked in for the first time, whether your past is pretty clean or dirtied by sin, the offer of salvation is extended to all. That’s what makes the Gospel so amazing—it doesn’t discriminate.
Application
Why are we so often tempted to get too big for our britches? It’s true—we can act like the world revolves around us or that we’ve earned everything we have. But today, I’m reminded: I’m a sinner in need of a Savior. I’ve fallen short, just like everyone else. And that’s the great equalizer—we all need Jesus.
Today, I feel humbled and hopeful. Salvation is still the most important thing—and it’s easy to forget that in the noise of life. I don’t want to forget.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me how much I need You today. Thank You for Your grace that includes even a sinner like me. Help me never to take that for granted. Amen.
—Aaron Cordeiro