Pity Party Cancelled!!

SCRIPTURE

Romans 5:6-11 (NRSV)
Justified by Christ's blood

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


DEVOTION

Today we are invited to boast in God with whom we have been reconciled by the blood Jesus. To reconcile means to, “reestablish a close relationship, resolve, restore, or bring into agreement or harmony.”

Reconciliation was necessary because our sin against God and neighbor destroyed our relationship and harmony with God. Because God is holy, blameless, and perfect, God absolutely hates sin. It is anathema to who God is and what God is about.

Therefore, when we sin, we break fellowship with God and cause dissonance in our relationship with the Almighty.

But, there is a way to bring all things back into agreement and harmony. We cannot do it; but God can and God did!

God loves us so much that God could not abide being out of fellowship with us. So God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made by dying on the cross, we are justified (or made right) by the blood of Jesus!

Now, it would have been exceptional for God to do this for only his friends; but scripture teaches us that while we were yet sinners and enemies, Jesus died for us!

Although God has a right to be angry about our sin, we are saved from God’s wrath when we put all of our hope and faith in Jesus!

Dear friends, right now you may be sitting around beating yourself up over your many, many sins and failures. You may feel terrible about the mistakes you have made and the people you have harmed. If you had it to do all over, perhaps you would do things differently.

But, let me tell you something. Time never, ever goes backward. We can only go forward.

So, today, I want to invite you to get down on your knees, put all of your faith in Jesus, trust God to forgive your sin, and ask God to help you to make amends with those people whom you have harmed.

When we are in Christ, and covered by The Blood of Jesus, we feel repentant when we fall short of the mark. This means that we feel sorry about our shortcomings, turn away from our sin and do our best to never-ever repeat it. But, we do not languish in a pit of despair whilst holding a pity party…

Jesus paid too high a price for our forgiveness, reconciliation, and friendship with God for us to take his gift for granted!

The Bible says, “S/he whom The Son sets free, is free indeed!” We do not need to wallow in guilt and shame for WE ARE FREE!

We are free to seek forgiveness. We are free to make things right. We are free to start again and we are free to move forward with the certain hope and expectation that God is with us and that God’s love will help us to live holy and righteous lives following the commandments of God!

So, be at peace my friends. Fall into the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus! Pick yourself up and start all over. You can do it (with the help of God)!


Won’t you pray with me?

Holy God, I am so embarrassed by my mistakes. Sometimes it feels like everybody knows what I have done. I have hurt you. I have hurt myself. I have hurt my friends. I have been wallowing in guilt and shame and it feels terrible. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I am putting all of my hope in Jesus. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose on the third day. Thank you so much that because of Jesus our relationship is reconciled and my sin is forgiven. Please help me to start all over again and to make things right to the best of my God-given ability. I love you and I will share our love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

I would be honored if you would take a moment to click “YES” in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, “Did God save you today?”

Thank you for reading good news as you are able and sharing good news as you are led. Go in peace, serve the Lord! (Thanks be to God!)