Romans 3:19-20
We know that everything in the Law
was written for those who are under its power. The Law says these
things to stop anyone from making excuses and to let God show that the
whole world is guilty. God doesn’t accept people simply because they
obey the Law. No, indeed! All the Law does is to point out our sin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today,
we were driving home from a swim at the community Aquatic Center, and a
car in front of us stopped at a red light. When the intersection was
clear, the driver sped through it while the light was still red. The
children saw this, and Timothy immediately said, “Aunt Debbie! You need
to call 911!”
I agreed with him that this was a bad thing for
the driver to do…he had disobeyed the law. But I didn’t call 911 – even
when Nathan chimed in and said, “Yeah, Aunt Debbie…you need to do what
Timmy said and call 911!” I told the children that perhaps this driver
was having a bad day – or he didn’t realize that the light had not
turned green. There could be a lot of reasons that he broke the law…but
in this case, it was not our place to report it to the police. I guess
you could say…we gave him a pass!
Every one of us does things we
shouldn’t. We all break the law from time to time – if only when we
drive a mile or two over the speed limit. I am not condoning this! But
as this scripture points out – all the law does is point out that we
are not perfect – that we all sin! Our human nature often tells us that
we can concoct some semblance of a reasonable excuse for what we did.
And sometimes, we react without thinking – and say and do things that we
truly should not. There is no excuse for our behaviors…but we often
offer…“these things happen.”
Aren’t you glad that God does not
judge us for every single law we break – or even every sin we commit?
Yes, it is wrong to break the law. Yes, these actions hurt God and can
weaken our relationship with God – from OUR vantage point. But God
never turns His back on us. He never stops loving us…and if we commit
our hearts to Jesus and make every effort to love and serve Him – God
never stops forgiving us.
This is such good news…because on any
given day, we’re all stinkers…capable of lying, cheating, stealing –
and yes, running a red light! Aren’t you glad to know that God is in
your corner…that the laws we are called to obey are not what truly
define our relationship with Him…or our eternal destiny?! Stop today
and thank God for loving you…for His forgiveness of your sins and His
willingness to set you upright after you disobey, disappoint, or
disconnect in some manner with poor choices and selfish behaviors.
Ask
Him to strengthen your relationship…to help you keep your focus on the
teachings of Jesus and your commitment to be a faithful servant and
disciple. We shouldn’t presume that God will give us a pass – anytime on
anything. But aren’t we glad that when we fall short, He restores us?
Have you thanked Him today for His amazing grace and mercy? Don’t you
think you should?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label repairing the damage of sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repairing the damage of sin. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 5, 2014
Jeremiah 33:6-9
Nevertheless the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s damage and give her prosperity and peace. I will rebuild the cities of both Judah and Israel and restore their fortunes. And I will cleanse away all their sins against me and pardon them. Then this city will be an honor to me, and it will give me joy and be a source of praise and glory to me before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my favorite TV shows is called “Rehab Addict”. It features Nicole Curtis, a young woman who buys really old, run-down houses in Detroit and Minneapolis...and completely restores them. Her specialty is using restoration hardware and vintage materials that she reclaims from other old homes – or purchases at a local salvage yard and thrift stores. She repairs old hardwood floors...light fixtures...stained glass windows...claw-footed bath tubs and vintage kitchen sinks...and so much more...and creates comfortable modern homes with a vintage feel.
Many of the houses that Curtis purchases were scheduled for condemnation. Some have windows that have been boarded up...graffiti that defaces the interior and exterior walls...and crumbling sidewalks and porches. Nothing seems to be too difficult for Curtis and her team to tackle...and when the program did show an old home that was too far gone being demolished, she was standing on the sidelines with tears pouring down her face.
Nicole Curtis is one of many restoration and renovation experts who have a vision. They see beauty and purpose where most of us would see something that needed to go. They have the foresight and ability to clean away the grime, sand and polish the years of wear and tear, and turn back time.
Most of us are a lot like those houses. We’ve become worn with time and “life”...and maybe stained with our sins and wrongdoings. Some of us are downright sick from all of it and in need of a profound healing and restoration. And God offers us exactly this! He has the vision of who and what we are supposed to be...what He intended for us. God also has the ability to restore us to our former purpose...to cleanse us of the stains of our sins and heal us where the gaping wounds of our bad choices and wrong paths have left us scarred and worn.
If you’re like me, you know at least one person of whom you have said, “If God can fix So-and-so, He can fix ANYBODY!” And maybe that “So-and-So” is YOU! The point is that God does not desire that a single one of us be “torn down and piled into the dumpster”. He sees us as He designed us...and He can get us back into prime condition. Aren’t you ready for a spiritual renovation and restoration...even if all you need is just a “light refreshing”? Isn’t this the perfect time to humble yourself before God and ask Him to “do a good work in you”? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Nevertheless the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s damage and give her prosperity and peace. I will rebuild the cities of both Judah and Israel and restore their fortunes. And I will cleanse away all their sins against me and pardon them. Then this city will be an honor to me, and it will give me joy and be a source of praise and glory to me before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my favorite TV shows is called “Rehab Addict”. It features Nicole Curtis, a young woman who buys really old, run-down houses in Detroit and Minneapolis...and completely restores them. Her specialty is using restoration hardware and vintage materials that she reclaims from other old homes – or purchases at a local salvage yard and thrift stores. She repairs old hardwood floors...light fixtures...stained glass windows...claw-footed bath tubs and vintage kitchen sinks...and so much more...and creates comfortable modern homes with a vintage feel.
Many of the houses that Curtis purchases were scheduled for condemnation. Some have windows that have been boarded up...graffiti that defaces the interior and exterior walls...and crumbling sidewalks and porches. Nothing seems to be too difficult for Curtis and her team to tackle...and when the program did show an old home that was too far gone being demolished, she was standing on the sidelines with tears pouring down her face.
Nicole Curtis is one of many restoration and renovation experts who have a vision. They see beauty and purpose where most of us would see something that needed to go. They have the foresight and ability to clean away the grime, sand and polish the years of wear and tear, and turn back time.
Most of us are a lot like those houses. We’ve become worn with time and “life”...and maybe stained with our sins and wrongdoings. Some of us are downright sick from all of it and in need of a profound healing and restoration. And God offers us exactly this! He has the vision of who and what we are supposed to be...what He intended for us. God also has the ability to restore us to our former purpose...to cleanse us of the stains of our sins and heal us where the gaping wounds of our bad choices and wrong paths have left us scarred and worn.
If you’re like me, you know at least one person of whom you have said, “If God can fix So-and-so, He can fix ANYBODY!” And maybe that “So-and-So” is YOU! The point is that God does not desire that a single one of us be “torn down and piled into the dumpster”. He sees us as He designed us...and He can get us back into prime condition. Aren’t you ready for a spiritual renovation and restoration...even if all you need is just a “light refreshing”? Isn’t this the perfect time to humble yourself before God and ask Him to “do a good work in you”? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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