Intro: No matter how far God’s children may wander from the Truth [Jesus], He is always ready for us to be reconciled (restored in peace) with Him. But, even though God is ready for us to return, how much better would it be if we would allow the power of grace to keep us from sinning. Let’s not forget, sin is rebellion against God’s commands [the Truth we were created to live], so living in sin and indifference to what we know is true is NOT a good place for us. We must repent and turn from what God identifies as sin, because it is reckless and dangerous to moved beyond His boundaries. He is a good and loving Father, but let’s never forget He is also Holy!
We never have to be concerned that God will not respond to us when we cry out for salvation; unless of course in our stubbornness we wait too long. One day, Christ is going to return for His Bride—the obedient Church—and we need to be ready. No one knows that day, but when Christ splits the eastern sky, we want Him to find us faithfully living in the Truth of His love.
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday; we will be starting our Lenten journey. We must recognize our sinful state as we honor Christ and his time of temptation and testing in the wilderness. We must draw near to the cross and gaze upon the extravagant gift of eternal life. May this time of reflection bring us closer to the heart of God.
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 (NLT)
5:20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin [to become sin itself], so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
6:1 As God’s partners,[as we work together] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”[I responded to you]
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for always being there for me; for being my sin offering and bringing me salvation. As I enter into these next forty days of reflection, may I not only be grateful for your gift of kindness, but may I respond quickly to you, Holy Spirit, as an obedient servant partner. In Jesus’ name. Amen.