Day Seventeen (of 31 Daily Reminders)

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!]

“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…

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Heb 2:18

Because He was tempted – He personally knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted because He has gone through it Himself – He is wonderfully able to help those who are being tempted now.

[He was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. Just knowing that He has been there is comforting when we find ourselves being tempted. To know that He endured to the end provides motivation to endure… Instead of struggling alone, I, {state your name}, can go to Him for forgiveness and for renewed strength in the battle.]

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, for we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.”
Heb 4:15

We have a High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Contrary to us, we have One, who because of His likeness to us, has been tempted and tried in every way that we are, however, He never gave in to them – He remained sinless.

[Jesus, our High Priest, fully understands our weaknesses. He faced all the temptations that we do – He was even tempted by satan himself. Yet He did not give in to them. That gives us great confidence!… I, {state your name}, can know that He is with me to help and sustain me when the devil and the world try to get me to listen to them instead of to God.]

“Therefore, let us enter the throne of grace with confidence, eager to receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.”
Heb 4:16

Therefore, let us boldly approach the throne of our gracious God with the fullest confidence, eagerly expecting that there we receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in our time of need.

[The God who graciously sent His Son, also can be counted on to give us mercy and grace in the face of all that life and our enemies throw our way… While, I, {state your name}, am tempted in all of these ways on a daily basis, I can know that by His grace I will overcome them and ultimately have the victory that He has won for me.]

 

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!

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!