Daily Devotional for June 4, 2015

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

I wrote a post for one of my blogs in which I used the analogy of a mole that sits atop my left foot.  The “birth mark” is about a quarter inch in diameter…but for my entire childhood, it was an embarrassment to me…something I made conscious efforts to hide as much as possible.  I know…it was ridiculous…but not all that uncommon.  I would venture to say that we all have things about ourselves that we do not like and/or wish did not exist or were not part of our “makeup.”

My brother had a much larger birthmark…on his backside.  I honestly cannot remember which "cheek"…and of course, his “mole” was easy to conceal!  But it was there, all the same.  And my point is that we all have something…whether others see it and/or know about it or not. To every sinner who has asked Jesus to forgive them and dwell in their heart, this merciful gift  of Salvation has been granted. And as this scripture translation states, we’re all in the same boat!

The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus died for each of us, so that we could all be in HIS boat.  If you could take every person in Jesus’ boat, strip him/her down, x-ray inside and examine the mind and heart, you would find all sizes, shapes and colors of “moles and warts!”  The only One in the boat who is blemish free would be Jesus…and yet, He welcomes each of us to share His “boat!”

This is amazing, incredible fact should be the impetus for us to get over ourselves and live for Jesus!  And it’s exactly what Paul calls us to do in this passage.  When we are “in Jesus’ boat” and make Him the central focus of our lives, our “moles and warts” disappear for all intents and purposes.  We are free to live, love, and serve in the name of Jesus. We are unencumbered by the frustrations – and even the shame or embarrassment – of our own imperfections…because the attention is no longer on us. 

Live in Jesus – and FOR Him – a “far better life” than you can ever live on your own.  Make Him the focus, and take the spotlight off of yourself.  Let His love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy cover your sins, warts, moles, and blemishes.  Don’t wait another minute!  Jump  over into Jesus’ boat…He has a spot there with your name on it! 

©2015 Debbie Robus