Daily Devotionals: Action Required

0:00September 21st, action required. Maybe you've heard the saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Quite a jarring statement, am I right? And we might balk at such a rigid idea. After all, we are spared the penalty of hell by faith alone, not actions. But consider this. If we claim to have trusted Jesus as our Savior, yet continue to deny the new behavior we are called to by Him for the purpose of transformation, how true is our faith. Today, we'll hear from John, a man who desired to connect with God, but his lifestyle of sin kept him bound in a cycle of destruction. He's here to share with us his true story. On this, unshackled, daily devotional. Mine was a normal childhood with Scouts, little league, and church. At age 14, I drove with an license and was sent to a boys' ranch

1:01where I stole a garbage truck and drove home. For that, I was locked in reform school for a year. I prayed, God, get me out of this, and I'll change. Two months later, I was back behind bars for assaulting two policemen. When I got out after 16 months, I got a job, but also sold drugs. I was still going to church, roaring up on my motorcycle. Then I stabbed two men in a fight and went back to prison for a year. For shooting a policeman, I was sentenced to 20 years. That time in prison, I studied and got all the education I could. After serving five years, I opened a bike shop, but still did drugs. I bought 40 acres of land in a remote mountainous area. Then I fell in love and settled down. Some, as two beautiful daughters were born to us. I was cooking and fetamine when the police raided and I was held without bail. I never seen the learn. I wasn't home when the fire started that destroyed our home and badly burned our newborn son. My wife couldn't cope and disappeared. I sat in prison and begged God to give me peace, crying for hours every day.

2:02Through prison chapel, I met men who showed me how to follow Christ daily. One day, I went to the altar and received Jesus as my Lord and Savior and found the peace I was seeking. My name is John Hawthorne. And when I was released, I turned my mountain retreat into a place where inner city kids can come to meet. Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse 21, He that hath my commandments and keepeth them. He it is that love with me. And He that loveeth me shall be loved of my Father. And I will love Him and will manifest myself to Him. Friend, saying that we love Jesus or that we want to live a Christian life is not enough to save us from eternal damnation or an earthly hell of our own creation. It is only when we take action and submit to God's commands that we can experience the fullness of His saving grace.

3:04Like John, we must learn to follow Christ daily. Will you receive this truth today? Unshackled, the longest running audio drama in history, heirs on over 3,000 radio stations worldwide, real people, real life stories, and the hope that changes everything. This award-winning program grips the heart with compelling and relevant stories of transformed lives. Without Jesus Christ, we are all shackled by sin, by our wrong choices, disobedience, and selfish motives. But God is at work, and the power of Christ sets us free of our bondage. Unshackled, daily devotionals are a daily reminder of God's presence in your life. Listen to a new devotional every day, and don't forget to tell your friends about unshackled, daily devotionals.