“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” ~2 Corinthians 5:21
While bike riding with my son early one morning, I noticed a severely blighted house. I wondered how beautiful it must have been when it was first built and what had happened to cause it to deteriorate over the years. And then I thought “people are that way”. It’s just that the deterioration happens mostly on the inside instead of the outside. Yet, we aren’t born this way.
We first enter the world with spirits freshly deposited into these magnificent little bodies, delivered straight from the bosom of God’s glory. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:13-14) Our souls are wide open and full of hope and promise. And then, somewhere along the way, we encounter situations and people that cause us to forget who we really are – how truly special we are. In our forgetfulness, we fall prey to shame, unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, sorrow, fear and doubt. These emotions slowly feast upon our joy and our light until our insides crumble and we begin to believe the stories that they tell us. But Jesus. In the midst of ruin, here comes Jesus to save us, remind us, resurrect us, restore us to our rightful place as royal sons and daughters of the King of Kings. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17) And to receive this exquisite, priceless gift, we need only believe that Christ suffered and died on the cross to guarantee our home in Heaven. “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
I honestly don’t know of a better time than right now to remind you WHO you are and how much you mean to God. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (2 Peter 2:9) Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross leaves us with ZERO excuses to allow anything to stand between us and God. There is nothing we have done or will do that is NOT covered by the blood of Christ. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) Through the gift of Jesus we were made holy and righteous in our Father’s sight. God does NOT see the mistakes, failures, missteps, shame. No. Because of Christ, God only sees His UNBLEMISHED daughter or son that He loves indescribably. “You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.” (Isaiah 62:3) So, if your soul is a fixer upper, weathered and worn by the storms of life, I know a carpenter who hung on a tree so that you might be restored to your original glory.
Prayer: Father, you are amazing. The love you have for me is beyond my ability to comprehend. Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Whenever I feel weighed down by my sins, help me to repent and remember I’m covered by the blood of Christ. When you look at me, all you see is my righteousness. I love you so much. I’m so grateful I will spend eternity in your loving arms. In the name of your beloved son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
On Earth As It Is In Heaven - 30-Day Devotional 