Grace For The Journey

I would like you to take a few moments today to prayerfully consider what all of the following just might have in common:

• A stain on your carpet
• A dent in your car
• A tear in your pants
• A limp in your walk
• A scar on your body
• A lost reputation
• A hole in your wall

All of these, and many other examples I’m sure you could think of, can be reminders of some kind of unpleasant experience in your life.  The Bible teaches us in the Old Testament that the people of God had constant reminders of their sin and sinful natures.  With every new sin they committed, whether it was a sin of commission or omission, intentional or unintentional, they were faced with these reminders:

• The sound of a bleating lamb
• The smell of fresh-spilled blood
• The sight of smoke rising from the altar

Every sin required a “sin offering” in order for the sin to be covered and cleansed.  This process accomplished two very important things:

1) The sinner was constantly reminded of the seriousness and sinfulness of sin;

2) The sinner was reminded of being forgiven and restored in relationship with God.

That was great news for people in need of redeeming!

However, this wonderful news gets even better!

The Bible teaches us in the New Testament that there is only one reminder that God has for redemption and reconciliation to Him.

Glory be to God, today we need only one reminder: the cross!

We are to daily remember the cross, where our Lord and Savior hung on our behalf and died in our place.

Jesus paid the penalty and price for our sin – once for all.  We are totally free from the endless requirements of making sacrifices for our sins.  The cross reminds us of this incredible truth:

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant what He said!

The devil would rather have you be reminded of your past sins daily.  He wants to keep you as a prisoner, chained to your painful past.  DON’T YOU LET HIM DO IT!

Keep the cross in view daily.  Remind yourself every day of the truths of the Gospel and live by its power.  Remember what Jesus has done for you daily, and you will know the freedom and joy of what it means to be living under the banner of the finished work of Christ.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”