Day Two (of 31 Daily Reminders)

This is from the devotional tool, “31 Daily Reminders”, that I have designed to help you begin each day aware of Who God Is, of Who We Are In Christ, of His Promises That Sustain and Empower Us, and of the Various Callings/ Vocations He Has Given Us.  If you would like a hard copy of these devotions, just let me know!

 

Who God Is…

God is spirit

[The God who is spirit took on a physical body – a body that would be abused and crucified – out of love for you and me!]

 

Who I am/we are in Christ…

I am redeemed, restored, forgiven!

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished upon us with all wisdom and understanding.”
Eph 1:7-8

Through the blood of His Son we have been redeemed and set free, having our sins forgiven according to the riches of His grace.

[At the cost of His own life Jesus paid the price to buy us back so that we could be set free from the death penalty for our sins. [Tetelesthai! It is Finished! The penalty is Paid in Full!]…I, {state your name}, am redeemed and forgiven by God because of Jesus’ death and Resurrection!]

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 Jn 1:8-9

If we say that we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves and refusing to admit the truth. But if we confess (freely admit to) our sins, God is faithful and can be counted on to do what He has promised, He will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

[The forgiveness of our sins is not dependent of the act of our confessing but on God’s promise to forgive. Not only does He forgive our past sins, but He also works within us to thoroughly cleanse us from all wrongdoing. Because He is just, He cannot just look the other way when we sin; sin must be paid for—and it was when Jesus died on the cross!…when I, {state your name}, acknowledge my sins, because of Jesus God forgives me and purifies me so that I can live as His holy child!]

 

His promises for me/us today…

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Isa 1:18

No matter how deep the stain of your sins, though they are bright red (public; everybody knows them), they shall be white as freshly fallen snow; though they are dark red (private; known only by you and God), they shall be like wool.

[Sin is sin; it always leads to death! White is the color of purity, a heart purified by the Lord…I, {state your name}, have had the stain of my public and private sins removed completely by Christ! I am forgiven and am being transformed!]

“There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Rom 3:23-24

There is no distinction (no matter who we are or what we have done): Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard. And all (who have faith) are declared “not guilty” as a result of the redeeming death of Jesus Christ.

[Sin always separates people from God. Without the forgiveness earned by Christ, we cannot stand in the presence of our holy God. “Though we walk 10,000 steps away from God, it is only one step back”…because of my sin, I, {state your name}, deserved death, but because of Jesus, I, {state your name}, have been declared righteous and have the gift of Life – abundant and eternal!]

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.”
Ps 103:12

[not north/south; but east/west: God’s forgiveness is complete!…my sins have been removed completely!]

 

His callings/my vocations…

As you reflect on these words from the Lord, what do you sense God calling you to be or to do? How do these words and promises from the Lord speak to you today with the particular joys and struggles that are part of your life and life of faith?

Think of the people who are closest to you in the vocations He has given you?  [husband/wife; family; friends; neighbors; others]. What are some of the “take-aways” from these verses that you could share with them to encourage or support them in the challenges they face as they live in this broken world?

Now take a moment to pray, using the words of some of these Scriptures to shape your prayer, as you pray them back to Him. Pray them specifically for those things that you or those you love are dealing with today!