Tag: Christ

God is Jealous for Me and You

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I think one of the more difficult names of God to think about is Qanna, Jealous. God is a jealous God but not in the human terms of jealousy which is almost always thought of in a negative sense. In humans it is not a character trait or action that is considered good. However, let’s rethink this in terms of God. God’s jealousy is one of protective love. The Lord seals every believer to Himself through the Holy Spirit. Unlike human beings, God does not experience feelings of insecurity, fear or anxiety about His relationship with people. He is righteously angry when His children choose to devote their time and attention to lesser things. When God’s children turn their backs on Him, in His mercy an grace He pursues them.

We see the name Jealous referred to multiple times when God is talking to them about worshipping idols. First in the 10 Commandments He lays down his standard for our behavior concerning worship. Exodus 20:5 “ You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,” God did not want the Israelites worshiping idols of wood or stone as He abhorred this practice. It offended Him as He desires them to worship Him alone.

When they were headed to the promised land, God warned them of His jealousy and the consequences. Exodus 34:13-14 “You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),” He also warned them of His jealous nature if they abandoned Him for idol worship. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 “ Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

Joshua warned the people as they entered the promised land as they were to fight people who worshipped idols. Those who would forsake the worship of the one true God would not be able to be forgiven and that they would be consumed. Joshua 24:19-20 “But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 

During the New Testament times, Paul mentions God’s jealousy too. The Corinthians were arguing about whether or not they could eat food that had been offered to idols. Paul tells them that their is nothing wrong with the meat but do they really want to eat food that has been a part of a pagan ritual and offered to a demon. He is saying you can’t have it both ways- like your cake and eat it too. Consider the source and intention of the food and then decide. As a Christian he said there is nothing wrong with eating the food but consider how others might view it. 1 Corinthians 10: 21-24 “ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” As they were to consider their actions, Paul reminds them that God is a jealous God and wants all of their devotion and worship to be towards Him not on any idols.

How does this effect you and me? I am encouraged and uplifted that God is jealous for my devotion and love. He loves me so much and sent Jesus because of His love to save me. John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Why would I want to place someone or something on such a pedestal of worship to arouse His jealousy? Imagine God’s seeing people reading, golfing, working, being entertained instead of spending time in worship, be it alone or in a fellowship group. Wouldn’t that arouse God’s jealousy as we idol away our time neglecting Him?

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am committed to a God who loves me and is jealous for my love towards Him. Seek to lean into Him this week and some spend time in prayer and study. He will bless you for your devotion.

Linda

LOVE = GOD

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The name for today, LOVE, I think of more as an attribute of God but it also encompasses His character and describes Him. God is love and shows love. He is motivated by love and His love is eternal.

The greatest expression of God’s love was sending His only Son, Jesus to come to earth and atone for our sins so we could be reconciled to Him. We were broken away from Him by the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden. Jesus restored a pathway to God by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead. He suffered, died and conqueror sin for us. I love John 3:16 as it speaks to the heart of God, His love for us. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Through faith in Jesus, we gain access to eternal life with Him.

1 John 4:9-10 puts it this way: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Propitiation is a big word but it simply means Jesus died in our place and was the atonement for our sin.

In 1 John 4:16-19 John speaks about the nature of God = LOVE. Knowing His love and abiding in it, we will know Him. His is a perfect love for us and it started with Him! Loving Him was not our idea but God’s! “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.“

God’s love is throughout scripture. In the Old Testament it is often referred to as God’s steadfast love. He wanted His people to know His love for them, in spite of their rejection and unfaithfulness, was unchanging and eternal. He will never leave us nor forsake us and He can be counted upon. David repeatedly spoke of God’s steadfast love in the Psalms. His heart was filled with love and devotion to God. I loved Psalm 59:16-17 “But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love. His love is with me all day and night. He is my fortress, refuge and strength. He shows me constant steadfast love!

Unlike man, God’s love is filled with forgiveness and restoration. Micah 7:8 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can experience God’s love for me daily and will be with Him in eternity. Thank you Jesus! Walk in God’s love today!

Linda

God is Our Rock!

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Jehovah-Sel’i or the Lord is my Rock is a new name for me. The Lord is listed repeatedly in scripture by the writers as my rock and I never saw it as a specific name for God. David often spoke this name for God as he saw God as the one who held him together and protected him at the most difficult times of his life. David was anointed to be King by Samuel while Saul was still king. David never threated Saul and was patiently waiting for God to move him into the king’s position. Saul on the other hand, was anxious to see David killed so his line and kingship would continue. David wrote Psalm 18 when under duress and persecution from Saul. Saul sought to kill David for 14 years before his death. You can hear the heart of David in his words and his true feelings about God his rock.

Psalm 18: 1-5 “I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. God was the one upon whom he depended.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
    the torrents of destruction assailed me; Even though Saul tried to kill him, 5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; David clung to God his Rock.
    the snares of death confronted me.

31-33 “For who is God, but the Lord?
    And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength David praises God’s steadfastness
    and made my way blameless. and His equipping.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and set me secure on the heights.

46-48 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance Praise God, my rock! He saved me!
    and subdued peoples under me,
48 who rescued me from my enemies;
    yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you delivered me from the man of violence.

I love this Psalm as it shows how David leaned upon God for his strength, courage, rescuing, equipping, and steadfastness. God was the immovable Rock that David could cling to in all times and in all seasons. No matter the circumstances, David knew that God would be there. Psalm 94:22 David writes these words, “But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.”

Who is God to you? Is He one to be depended upon at all times, confided in, trusted with your most difficult problems and your hopes and dreams? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the Rock of my salvation and cling to Him, hide behind and within Him and know He will never change. He is immutable and as Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We can depend upon our unchanging God just like David.

Linda

Provider God

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One of my favorite names of God is Provider. There is so much to this name that it always reassures me and makes me smile. God promises to be our provider. When looking in scriptures there are several words that may appear, provides, supplies, and lack for nothing give the meaning of God as provider.

God provided for Abraham on Mt. Moriah. God had told him to go and sacrifice his son on the mountain. They took wood and other supplies but no lamb. When Isaac questioned his father about this, Abraham said, “God will provide”. Indeed He did as we read in Genesis 22:13-14 “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” During the reign of King Hezekiah the Israelites were attacked by the king of Assyria. Hezekiah prayed and laid Sennacherib’s blaphemous letter before God and asked for rescue. God miraculously provided victory and saved them. 2 Chronicles 32:20-22 “Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.” The Bible is filled with passages that show God’s great provision for His people.

God often goes to great lengths to provide for those with physical needs. In Psalm 68:9-10 the psalmist recalls how God treated the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness. “Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished;10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.” God provided manna 6 days a week with a double portion on day 6 for 40 years! Exodus 16:4-5 “ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” Then God also agreed to provide meat, Exodus 16:8a “And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full,” Many other places God provided food. He fed Elijah in the wilderness by a raven and He multiplied the widow’s flour and oil to last as long as needed. Can you recall a time when God provided food when you least expected it or sorely needed it?

God’s greatest provision is Jesus. He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him. 2 Peter 1:11 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

What promise about God as provider is dearest to you? David was thankful that God watched over him especially in the presence of his many enemies. He wrote Psalm 23 from the heart of one who loves and appreciates God as provider. Psalm 23:1, 5-6 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” God also promises to supply what we need. That does not mean He will give us all we want, but when we are doing His work He will see that we have the needed resources to do the job. That might include physical, spiritual and emotional support or all of them. I love Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” All things are possible in Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Shouldn’t we be encouraged and assured by Jesus’ words and promises!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know with assurance that God is my provider and He will work all things for His good and my glory. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” When we belong to Him, we can trust Him to provide. He is the great Provider.

Linda

Jehovah Shalom, Peace a gift from God

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Peace is something we all strive for as we think, if we achieve it all will be good and calm. However, the only one who can truly grant us peace is God. Gideon was called of God to rescue the Israelites during the time of the Judges. Judges 6:22-24a “ Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace,” Jehovah Shalom in Hebrew was Gideon’s name for God, The Lord of Peace, and describes how he felt after this encounter with God. Many other writers in scripture use God’s name, Lord of Peace, as a form of blessing or to describe the quality of peace that God can bestow upon the believer! Gideon felt God’s peace and was ready to move into action. God’s peace motivates us to live for Him and surrounds us with His comfort too.

Paul used the name, Lord of Peace, as a sign off in Romans and 1 Thessalonians. Romans 15:33 “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” When they were departing by ship, walking or with a letter, they wanted the receiver to know that God was with them always and that He is the granter of peace in our lives. Paul wanted them to look to Jesus for their peace.

Another aspect of God’s peace is action oriented and we can depend upon this peace to produce action or results in our lives. In Romans 16:19-20 Paul wants his readers to know that the God who gives peace also will take care of evil. He will crush Satan as he has promised. “For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Action also involves focus on Him. You can’t get peace without keeping your mind on Him as we are told in Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” I love this action as it is a promise that we are assured peace if we remain focused upon God.

Jesus told us in John 14:27 that He was leaving peace for us, from God, and it will keep your troubles from becoming overwhelming and keep away fear! “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Paul expanded on how to access this peace of God in Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do you want to know the peace of God or the Lord of Peace? Scripture tells us it is ours as a gift from God. Nothing is required other than faith in Jesus and trusting Him. He will give us the peace that passes all understanding, and He will see that our hearts and minds are guarded in Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know, feel and live in God’s peace as the Lord of Peace is always with me! Be assured that God is the God of peace, but Jesus himself is known as the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus is our prince always bringing us peace! Thank you Jesus.

Linda

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Where do you place your Hope?

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I love today’s name for God as the early Christians called him their blessed hope. If you had to name your best hope, would it be Christ? Paul writes to young Titus who he sent to Crete to minister to the Christians there in Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” I love this portion of scripture as Paul reminds Titus, and us too, that Jesus brought salvation for all people. Jesus trains us through the Holy Spirit that lives with us to renounce or turn away from evil and the things of the world that would tempt us to sin. God desires that we live holy godly lives characterized by self-control and rightness. Thankfully, our rightness comes from Jesus and when we accept Jesus as our savior He covers us with His rightousness so that we can stand before God pure and holy. What a blessed gift to us! Paul wanted Titus to look forward to Christ’s return and live a godly life until He does return. That is our desire too, that we many glorify God in our lives. Jesus is our blessed hope as our future with Him is secure and upheld by God’s promises.

David speaks also of our blessed hope in Psalm 71:5 “For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” Do you see the hope the Lord provides in Jesus? He gives us hope as we place our trust in Him! David had trusted God since his days as a shepherd boy as he faced the lion and the bear protecting his father’s sheep. He knew God personally and trusted Him and placed his trust and hope in Him.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am assured of His blessed hope for my salvation, my future and my walk with Him- day by day-fearlessly! Today focus on the blessed hope we have in Jesus and see if it does not motivate and lighten your heart and your steps.

Linda

Here Comes Advent… 1st Sunday of Advent 2025

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I am just like a little kid and have great anticipation when we enter the advent season. I love the lights, trees, decorations, gift giving, etc. but most of all I love the meaning for this season. Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God. He gave us a way to be right with Holy God and have a way to live with purpose that glorifies Him. This first Sunday of Advent we light the Hope candle. It speaks of this promised hope the Jews knew was coming in Messiah, Savior. They were looking forward to His coming and we are looking back as we know He has come.

Each day during the Advent Season, I will be blogging about scriptures that tell the Christmas Story. Each scripture tells us something about God and reflects His character. We can see God had a hand in the entire story and He is alive in each detail. As you read the scripture, ponder what attributes you see revealed. I have done so also and will be highlighting an attribute I saw. There is no right answer here as God’s character is vast and varied and He may show you a different aspect of who He is- that is good!

In the lighting of the Advent candle of Hope, I saw God’s patience and long-suffering towards mankind. The Jews were patiently waiting for God to appear. We know He has arrived when He sent His son Jesus. Jesus fulfills our greatest hope for mankind and the future we will have with Him. God patiently waits for as many as possible to turn to Him. While we wait, we are to tell others about Jesus so they too can partake in the Hope he provides. I claim 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” I claim this truth about God as I know God wants all to come to know Him.

As we enter this Advent Season, who do you know that needs Jesus? Perhaps this is the time to drop a well placed word, a card, or an act of kindness their way. God is patiently waiting for them to come to know Him. Be bold for Jesus as He is the reason for this season!

Linda

Bearing Fruit Pleases God!

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Today I want to focus on Colossians 1:9-10 “ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Paul is telling the Colossian Christians that he has heard of their ministry and works for the Lord and has been praying for them. At this point, Paul has not been able to visit them but wanted them to feel encouraged in their work and faith. He desired that they be filled with knowledge about God and live with spiritual wisdom and understanding. He implied that being filled with knowledge of God leads to wisdom and understanding so that they could walk and live in a manner that is worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him. Paul wanted them to know that bearing fruit for God pleases HIm along with their own continued growth.

The concept of bearing fruit is one Jesus spoke of in John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Knowing Jesus as Savior makes us a branch in His tree, in his vineyard. He desires that we bear fruit and will prune us so we will bear even more fruit. One who just wastes the goodness of God and does nothing with all He has given us will be taken away. Since we know that once we accept Jesus we belong to Him and cannot lose our salvation, this must mean something else. Perhaps consider, those that do not bear fruit are not in the direct pathway of blessings that God gives those who live for Him. The main point here is that bearing fruit requires the plant be fertilized, cared for, watered, etc. God does that for us- He provides for us nourishment from His Word so we can grow, He provides Christian fellowship to surround us and keep us encouraged, loved and walking with Him. We have all felt the pruning of God in our lives. This is not fun but necessary for our growth and development. As we look back on those hard times, we see God’s hand guiding us and providing new things for us to learn about walking and serving Him!

Besides bearing fruit which pleases God, Paul commended them to do good works and grow in the knowledge of God which are both fruits. Think about your week so far, what good works have you done because you love God? It could be as simple as taking cookies to a neighbor or speaking with a lonely person. Our love for Jesus causes us to do these things as we think of others and not just about ourselves. Paul is also concerned with the fruit of growing in the Lord. What Bible Study do you plan to attend and how much do you read God’s Word? Is your Bible well worn from use over the years? If not, plan to seek out a good Bible study. I would recommend Bible Study Fellowship which is an International Bible Study for both men, women and children that you can attend in-person or online anywhere in the world! Just google http://www.bsf.org and get connected. Another such group is Community Bible Study that is also international and in person and online too. http://www.communitybiblestudy.org Or, seek out a Bible study at your church. The point is to get into God’s Word and doing it in community bring blessing and clarity to our studies.

Paul was wise to tell the Colossians that they did not have to do this bearing fruit and growing on their own. Verse 11 gives us added directives, “11being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” God does not leave us with the command to bear fruit and then not give us the power! No way! The Holy Spirt gives us strength, endurance, patience and joy as we seek to live lives that bring glory to God!

May you have a week that bears fruit for God and sees you growing in the knowledge of Him

Linda

Justification- a Big Deal!

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God promises that our faith in Christ will redeem us from our sins and leave us pure and holy. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can claim be presented to God as justified and free from sin. Wow! that is a big deal and a good deal for you and me!

Why is this so important to you and me?  To be justified means to be declared ‘not guilty’ and to be acquitted of wrong doing or shown to be innocent. Because of our sin nature we are guilty before God and can do nothing to help ourselves.  We can’t do enough good works or be really good and earn enough ‘points’ to be declared worthy or clean before God.  All you have to do is look around you to see that people do wrong things all the time even when they don’t really mean or want to.  Romans 3:23, “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” is pretty plain that all mankind are sinners.  However, let’s look at verse 24, “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”.   We are all sinners but saved by Jesus because He declares us ‘not guilty’ though His work on the cross.   It is a gift to us through His grace when we believed in Him.  We did nothing to deserve it.  Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Our faith in Jesus brings us into a relationship with God that is peace filled and free from the guilt and burden of our sin. Martin Luther declared many centuries ago that we are saved by grace alone, in Christ alone and by faith alone.  Christ did all the work to save us and justify us before God.

justifed by grace

As I think about this, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.  Jesus saved me from condemnation and declared me ‘not guilty’ before our heavenly Father.  I will no longer be subject to the penalty I really deserve for my sins which is eternal death.  I am also now open to God’s peace and can let it fill me each day as I rest in His eternal redemption. Praise God!  How about you?  Are you resting in Jesus?  Let these final days of Lent be a time of peace, filling as you praise to Jesus for his sacrifice and His declaring you Not Guilty before God.

Eternally grateful for His justification and peace,

Linda

The Depths of Forgiveness

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Have you given much thought to the forgiveness you have in Christ? One of God’s promises is that our sins are totally forgiven through our faith in Jesus. What would life be like for you if you had no way to get rid of your guilt over the things you do wrong? They could be simple slights to others, a harsh word said in anger or ‘bigger’ sins like murder and stealing. There are no degrees of sinfulness with God- sin is sin no matter how big or small and it separates us from holy God.

One of the most important things I receive from Christ is forgiveness.  It is not just a little forgiveness for everyday sins but total forgiveness for all the things that I have done and will do because of the sin nature I was born with.  Jesus paid the price required by God for my sin and yours,  “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 3:23.  Through His death on the cross the penalty for my sin and yours was marked paid in full.  “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ” Hebrews 10:10.   This sin nature I was born with is evident in my life each day.  The Apostle Paul said it best in  Romans 7:15  “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” It seems while in this world we are constantly susceptible to our sin nature.  I am so thankful that Jesus provided a way for me to be redeemed from sin, a way for me to be victorious over sin, a way for me to rise above the sins that would entangle me, and a way for me to live each day by His grace and mercy.

As you consider Jesus’ sacrifice and your sinful nature, consider Colossians 1:13-14 in the Amplified version.  13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].

God's forgiven

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can say with absolute assurance that I am totally forgiven through the power of Jesus’ blood.  Now that we have it- we need to claim it and live like we are forgiven!  Let go of the guilt and shame brought on by sin.  Don’t let Satan entangle you with guilt- he is a great liar and deceiver. He wants us bogged down by our past.  Pray and give it to Jesus- know that you are forgiven once and for all though Jesus!

Living forgiven, praise Jesus!

Linda