Ever had this experience? You waltz into one of those
fancy-schmancy restaurants with 467 courses of dinner with 759 pieces of
silverware on the table. The menu can sometimes seem overflowing with
appetizing options, but after careful consideration we usually either
decide on something we really want, take a friend’s suggestion, or settle for
something because we’re tired of looking and can’t make a decision. Once
we’ve enjoyed our meal, we signal the server and say something like
The bill comes … and it’s pretty high, not
that we weren’t expecting it to be high but just that we expected the
meal to be MORE satisfying for the price we paid. I would
like to submit this question to you: How many times have we chosen a
“course” of sin offered by this world based on our own appetite or desire, the
recommendation of a friend, or just from settling? And by “courses” I
mean choices we are presented with in our everyday life (perfect example:
relationships!). How many times have we gone against God, trying to
fulfill our own needs & desires, and paid a price not worth the cost?
Since we all have
missed and sinned against God before (Cc:Rom 3:23, 1 John 1:8), we
sometimes feel guilty or get down on ourselves for the choices we’ve made but I
want to encourage you that GodSTILL loves us and forgives us (just
as Rom 3:24 & 1 John 1:9 declare…see how God
acknowledged our sin and offered forgiveness in the same passages?!?!)
If you’ll indulge me for a few minutes more, I’d
like to encourage you in the work of Christ’s cross which made the
forgiveness of our sins possible, the price paid by the Messiah for the
redemption of God’s children. I absolutely LOVE how Romans 5:8 declares
that “but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us” …NOTwhen we “got right”
on our own, but WHILE we were being SUPER foolish, sinning
against God every chance we got… and left feeling that the price we paid was
too high for the sin we committed.Romans 6:21 tells us that the
sinful things we once did have now made us ashamed and that the wages of sin
are death…aren’t we glad we can rejoice that someone ELSE paid
that price?
“For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way
of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the
precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” – 1
Peter 1:18-19 (SN: Money couldn’t save your soul then,
don’t sell your soul trying to get it now!)
Everything we’ve done, God has forgiven us through
the work of Jesus’ cross. Yep, even the thing you’re thinking about right
now that absolutely no one else knows about…He’s forgiven you for thattoo! Not
only did God forgive us, He resurrected Christ from the grave with ALL power in
His hands … and provided us FREE access to it, defeating the enemy in EVERY
area of our lives (Cc: Luke 10:19, 1 John 4:4).
“You were spiritually dead because of
your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful
self. But God gave you new life together with Christ.
He forgave all our sins. Because we broke God’s
laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But
God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the
cross. He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With
the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and
powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.” – Col 2:13-15
As the world prepares to
celebrate “Easter,” we, the bride of Christ, cannot forget to
rejoice in theResurrection of Jesus Christ who came to bear
the sins of the world, was wounded for our transgressions (violation
of the law), bruised for our iniquities (sin), the chastisement
(punishment) of our peace was upon Him and by HIS stripes we
are healed as Is 54:4-5declares.
I just want to remind you
that Jesus loves us SO much, that He LAID down His life
for us (John 10:17-18). Despite choosing sin from every “course”
available to us, OUR Messiah still loved us and paid the price to
redeem us!
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says
the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like
wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good
things of the land” – Is 1:18-19 …
God KNEW we were trifling and STILL wanted us.
Enjoy this time of celebration (and however
many days you have off from work, lol) and as children of the Most High God we
should remember Galatians 2:20 as it states:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no
longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
I love you,
Allison :-)
(originally posted: April 6, 2012)
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