This week Michael writes the
“Forgiveness” starts with grace … that undeserved, undeniable gift of
grace given by God because of the payment made by Jesus Christ on our
behalf. To know forgiveness is to know that we were convicted and
pronounced guilty before a righteous judge. However, the payment for our guilt
was paid by the innocent blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away our sin. For
God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for the ungodly. How much did God value your forgiveness? The value God
places on our forgiveness from the penalty of death is the inestimable worth of
the innocent blood of Jesus Christ, his only begotten son.
As a Christian, what is it
that you value most? A Christian’s “Value” defines his character. Value
means weight. What is most weighty in your life? God is committed to
develop his character in me. Character according to His Word is that we
may be conformed to the image of his son, Jesus Christ. If my prayer is “God
help me to be the person that you created me to be,” God will develop my character
to be just like Jesus. For it is God who works in you to will and to do of his
good pleasure. Christ’s heart behind my heart, His eyes behind my eyes, His
hands behind my hands, and His feet behind my feet.
At Gethsemane ,
Jesus knew His mission: to continue when everything on earth said to give
up. Jesus prayed, “Lord, if there be any way, please let this cup pass from me,
nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” Jesus had made the
commitment to only do His Father’s will. Prayer is not to align God’s Will with
my will, but to align my will with God’s Will. To finish well, we need the
encouragement of our big brother, our Lord Jesus Christ along the way. Jesus
was willing to suffer a humiliating death and take upon Himself the sin of the
world as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He, for the joy that was set
before him, endured the cross and is set down on the right hand of God. For he
who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be
made the righteousness of God in him.
There is a narrow gate that
leads to the narrow way and few there be that find it. The journey of
life proceeds through a long and winding road that God has prepared for us to
walk with Him. There are many pitfalls along the way. The pitfalls in life show
us that we cannot make it on our own. We cannot be crucified apart from Him. For
those who live for the things of this world are unworthy to be his disciples, His
disciplined followers. The first of the Ten Commandments is “thou shalt have no
other gods between God’s face and my face.” Those who live intimately in
God’s presence are those who come to Him with total abandonment and absolute
trust. We must give up the rights to our selfish self that we may be made the
righteousness of God in Christ. As the apostle Paul said, “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.” After Paul had prayed three
times for God to remove Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” God finally said to Paul,
“my grace is sufficient for thee.”
Success in God’s eyes is the
exact opposite of success in the world’s eyes. Jesus said, “he who finds
his life shall lose it for my sake.” He also said blessed are the poor in
spirit, the meek, and those who are hungering and thirsting after
righteousness. Only when children of God have the heart attitudes of the
“beatitudes” can they rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is their reward
in heaven. Jesus said, “A new commandment give I you, that ye love one
another.” Like Jesus, who washed his disciples’ feet, we need to wash
each other’s feet to cleanse ourselves as we walk upon the journey of this
life.
Our culture has lost its “value”
founded upon the Word of God and the original intent of the Constitution. In
losing its value, America
has lost her character. God has called us as His remnant, who are worthy
(valuable) to be called His sons and daughters because of the righteous worthy
payment (value) of his dear Son. He has called us to shine as lights in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Therefore let your light so
shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which
is in heaven, for it is God which worketh in you to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ, Michael
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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