Tuesday the 24th

Romans 5: ¹⁰For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

 

You are reconciled with God. You are forgiven. It is a phrase that we use often. We use it to the point that the words are said, but often are not heard. Do you believe it? Do you live it? We hear the phrase that we are forgiven, and it is easy to think of a lot of people in your life who are forgiven, and needed that forgiveness…but what about you? We hear the phrase, and we know that those around us have had the slate wiped clean, but what about you? DO you realize that that forgiveness is on a very deep, internal, and personal level, that the Lord’s forgiveness is yours and it was given directly to you? We are always eager to make sure others know about the love of God, the forgiveness that we were given through His Son, yet we have a problem giving ourselves permission to enjoy that same forgiveness. We know that Christ lived dies and rose again to save the world, but do we centralize that down to the point that we understand that He did all of that for each one of us? You are forgiven, you are reconciled with God, your past does not matter anymore…..So are you living like you are forgiven, or are you living like you are still waiting to be? If you have not dropped the pain and the hurt in your life, how can you expect anyone you talk to do it? A forgiven life is a life of  service, and thanksgiving, a life waiting to be forgiven is a life of servitude to the world, and regret. Choose to accept the forgiveness that is freely offered. It is forgiveness that was extended to you before you were born. It is a standing offer, that is never revoked, but you have to choose to accept it. You have to choose to live it. Christ did not hang on a cross so that you could see all those around you receive the benefit. He did it for you. His forgiveness is not just for everyone else, it is specifically for you. Your sins are no worse, your short comings are no different, your past is just that the past. Live the life of the forgiven, not the life the world would have you live. Choose to take the Lord up on His offer, and truly let Him in. let go of the regret, the Lord has already forgotten it.

 

God Bless,

Brian