Category: Grace

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Grace & Peace

Have you ever found yourself in a place that is noisy and chaotic? A place of constant activity – people and/or vehicles rushing about? Yelling, sirens, loud whistles?

I try to avoid those places at all costs! I long for quiet and serenity. I don’t even like the commercials on TV because they come on louder than the programming I’m watching and it seems like they are yelling at me.

Our home is my place of peace. In fact, when we moved in we named it Casa de Paz, House of Peace!

It’s also a place where we extend grace.

Grace, as defined by Webster, 1a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: a virtue coming from God c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance 2a: APPROVAL, FAVOR stayed in his good graces barchaic : MERCY, PARDON c: a special favor : PRIVILEGE d: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e: a temporary exemption : REPRIEVE

My simple definition of grace is receiving undeserved goodness.

So why am I talking to you about grace and peace?

For the past few days I have felt compelled to read through the Book of Colossians again. Years ago it became one of my favorite books in the New Testament. Paul’s letter tells of God’s wonderful love, forgiveness, grace, peace and authority. I want to share with you some of my thoughts from this book.

“I am writing to you who belong to Christ in the city of Colossae. May all the Christian brothers there have loving-favor and peace from God our Father.” Colossians 1:2 NLV

The terms loving-favor and kindness are also translations of the word grace.

Paul immediately identifies our relationship with God. When we accept the gift of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ we are adopted by our loving Father, God. He wants the best for us and that starts with Him showering us with grace; loving-favor and kindness.

I see the Father embracing us.

I imagine the outpouring of His love is something like what Dave and I do when the grandkids come to visit, only greater. We meet them on the driveway, help them out of the car and the first thing we do is hug and kiss them. (Their parents also) We mix in a couple of tickles too. Then we take them into the house and show them the special surprises and treats we have planned for them.

Loving-favor.

There have been a couple occasions when these same grandkids have awaken in the night crying, uncertain of where they are or just a little frightened by something. Immediately, we are there. Sshing their fears, kissing their heads and telling them everything will be ok. We create an atmosphere of peace.

This is what God, our Father, does for us. This and so much more is what we receive from Him. Paul wrote thirteen letters to new Christians in the New Testament. Each one of them brings a message of grace and peace. God wants all of His children to know His goodness!

I want everyone to know it too. I pray that you will experience the Father’s kindness and His peace today.


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Looking In

It’s so easy for those who don’t know us very well to “look in” on our lives and make judgements.

Have you ever had that happen to you?

It’s hard to deal with but we can dismiss those actions with “they just don’t know me well enough”. However, it’s much harder when someone we love and are close too spreads lies or judges us harshly.

That can cause relationships to crumble and/or jealousy to grow. I know. Personally, I have been judged harshly on a couple occasions and regretfully, I have also been guilty of doing the same.

I’d like to tell you about a lady who had her reputation besmirched publically. She was called out because of her past. Her accuser tried to humiliate her in the presence of his friends and business associates. She had no where to retreat from his cruel words.

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”…

 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50 NKJV

Jesus’ words “judge not unless you want to be judged” ring in my heart when I read this story. No one is insignificant to the Father. He sent His Son to die for everyone of us. Others may judge us, whether correctly or incorrectly, but Jesus only judges sin and all sin is the same to Him. And then He offers us peace and forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that man looks at what we do on the outside but God looks at our hearts. When people make hurtful accusations, look inside to see what God sees. Others may see failure, a screw-up, but God sees us as His sons and daughters, forgiven and wrapped in His love.

“God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.” Romans 8:15 CEV

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Big Mess!

One of our grandsons had a saying when he was about two, “Ooo mess”! This was his comment when things were out-of-order or just didn’t look the way he felt they should.

On occasion I have looked in the mirror and thought ooo mess. Have you? I’ve sometimes felt that I was the world biggest mess.

Let’s evaluate yesterday. Was it a good day? Was I productive and helpful or did I let self-pity and hurt feelings rule? Was my speech kind or harsh? Was I critical or complimentary? Did I look like Jesus or did everyone see an old version of myself, that should be buried?

Were the words “ooo mess” the best description of my day or was it “wow, message”?

If you were more of a mess than a message I have good news for you.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:22-25 NLT

As I sit here looking out my front window the sun hasn’t come up yet. It’s still dark but I know a new day is coming and with it I have God’s promise of mercy for whatever the day holds.

I am so thankful that the Lord doesn’t look at us and say – ooo, mess. Instead He sees us and says “wow, I have a message of mercy for you”. It’s a new day and the Father is covering us with mercy.

“‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.'” Isaiah 1:18 NLT

The little boy in this morning’s picture was a mess; his Mom saw a masterpiece. Her lovingkindness covered him with warm water and soap bubbles and what had been a mess was now clean.

“O God, favor me because of Your loving-kindness. Take away my wrong-doing because of the greatness of Your loving-pity. 2 Wash me inside and out from my wrong-doing and make me clean from my sin.”Psalm 51:1-2 NLV

The message of this morning is this: yesterday’s mess, big mess, has been taken care of. The Lord has washed and cleansed us with His love and mercy. Before the sun comes up, He has given us new mercies for the day and He is faithful to His word, “come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace in our time of need”.

We are no longer a mess but our life is a message!

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Formatted Correctly

Just a short time back I shared how God sees us as completely new when we accept the forgiveness that Christ provided for us on the cross. The Bible says that our past is gone, wiped clean, and we are completely new.

That’s a hard concept to grasp because we can remember our past and all of our failures so well.

Hard to imagine, that is, unless you have ever experienced a hard drive crash on your computer or, as I remembered this morning, a time when I had improperly formatted or failed to format a DVD disc.

I had been asked to make dvds of a memorial service. I tested the first two copies to make sure they were formatted correctly and then followed the same process for the others. Imagine my shock when a few days later I received an email telling me that several of the copies were blank.

What?

Our lives are a lot like that DVD when we come to Christ. Old things have passed away and all things have become new.

“You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 CEV

Our sins were wiped out, removed – the disc is blank!! Here’s the great thing about God, He doesn’t leave us with a blank disc.

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:10-12 NIV

We have a promise that God, our loving heavenly Father, will write His word in our hearts. It is the leading of the Holy Spirit; giving us direction, encouraging us, correcting us, inspiring us, that makes the Word of God come alive in our lives. God puts the desire in our hearts to know Him and the way we get to know Him is through reading His letter to us. Those words will burn to our disc.

I remember when Dave & I were dating – it was a long distance relationship. I waited anxiously each day for his letters to arrive and when they did I’d read them over and over again. (In fact, I still have those letters and take time to read them occasionally.)

I looked for the parts that said he loved me and that he was coming to see me soon. Those words burned into my very being and I would excitedly tell my friends – “he’s coming, he’s coming”. I had his word on it and his words became life to me.

That’s the way God’s word is to me now. It burns indelibly into my heart!

Circumstances or time can’t steal what the Holy Spirit has written there.

I know that when I press “play” the disc won’t be blank. I pray today that you have God’s word burned onto your heart!

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Intentionally Planted

Some of you have read my previous blogs where I talk about the tree in my backyard. It was just a twig, no bigger round than my little finger when we first discovered it. And it was only inches high. That was six and a half years ago. Today its close to fifteen feet high and shades half the yard. We didn’t plant it but once we saw it was there we decided to nurture it, hoping it would do exactly what it is doing now and provide good shade on warm afternoons. We haven’t been disappointed.

I’ve learned many lessons from that tree and the other day when I was out working with my flowers that tree brought another lesson to mind. The Bible talks about the natural law of sowing (planting) and reaping (harvesting). In fact, a number of times Jesus used farmers and their work with seeds in His stories that He told about spiritual principles.

“While the earth lasts, planting time and gathering time, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not end.” Genesis 8:22 NLV

These words were spoken by God to Noah after the flood. He was reassuring Noah that never again would He destroy the earth with a flood and that the earth would be fruitful and produce with regular occurence. God knows how long it takes crops to go from seed to harvest and the time of seasons were set accordingly.

But now, let’s go back to the tree. God also knew/knows how long it takes trees to grow to the point of maturity so that they can be used for timber. And in one particular case, He knew where to plant and when to plant the seed that would grow to be used for the cross.

Before Jesus was born on this earth, the tree had been planted. It grew, unhindered, until the day a woodsman saw it and felled it. The bark had to skinned and the tree split into planks that could be used for building. It had to be left to dry so it wouldn’t warp or twist.

God had intentionally planted the tree that would be used for a Roman cross. My tree was nutured for comfort, for shade. His tree was nutured for salvation.

“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14 NLV

Each time I look at the tree in our yard I think of how much its grown. I wonder if each time the Father looked at earth if He thought of that tree and what it represented for His Son and for us. I’m sure He did, it was part of His plan.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 NLV

I’m so thankful that God is intentional in all His doings. He intentionally set seasons, He set the boundaries for the oceans and the rotation of the planets. He put the earth on its axis and set us at the right distance from the sun. From the very beginning, when man sinned God intentionally put a plan in place for us to be restored to relationship with Him.

Intentionally planted and salvation was complete!

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Another Project Begins

I’ve been talking with a number of people who have been doing some very involved DIY projects over the last few months. Years ago a friend of mine, who was going through a home remodeling, told me that that the most important part of the project was having a good marriage. She said the renovation was so stressful at times that she would have given up and lived in rubble if it hadn’t been for the strength and encouragement of her husband.

One of our daughters’ and her husband just completed a complete make-over of their travel trailer; floors, walls painted, cabinets, new cushions, table tops, the works. A friend of mine started slowly with her projects- the master bathroom needed new fixtures. Now, her walls have been painted, new light fixtures added, the garage cleaned and organized, new furniture has been ordered, and some rooms have been rearranged.

Today we start a new project ourselves. In December, we bought an 5th wheel travel trailer. It’s over ten years old and the interior is very nice but dated. Dave and I have been planning this all summer. Dave actually started in July by changing out some of the flooring before we started off on our three week trip. But today is the day we start with the walls and the cabinets.

We’ve taken inventory of what we had and what we needed to buy. Supplies have been gathered and it’s time to begin. We can see in our mind’s eye the completed project. It’s going to be hard work but the end result will be worth the effort.

It’s not hard to relate the changes we make in our homes, our hairstyles and our wardrobes with the changes that God makes in us. Just yesterday I was talking about something and realized I shouldn’t have said what I did and right out loud I said “Father, I’m sorry I shouldn’t said that. Thank you for correcting me”. I’m being changed daily by His grace.

“For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. 10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NLV

In one version of these versions it says we are His workmanship. God, the Father, has lovingly designed each one of us for good things. He wants nothing but the best for us. At times, it seems like we are under construction; there is painter’s tape on our walls, some rough edges that need sanding, our counter tops may be covered with drop cloths and supplies but the Master Craftsman can see the finish product and it makes Him smile.

“I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.” Philippians 1:6 NLV

Lord, thank you for loving me enough to do a good work in my life!

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Make It Feel Better

Have you ever skinned your knee, broke your arm, stubbed your toe, or hit your funny bone? Hurts, doesn’t it? Maybe you’ve had something more serious, maybe you have battled cancer or some other disease.

If so, you have learned how amazing the body is in working to heal itself. Blood cells start rushing to provide the infected part what it needs to heal. Swelling occurs to protect the injured part and keep it safe. All systems begin to work together for the good of the whole body.

I remember when I broke my right wrist I had to compensate for the loss of my primary hand. I had to learn to do the simple things with my left hand; things like brushing my teeth, combing my hair, tying my shoes, keyboarding and writing.  Oh my goodness, I was so thankful to have a second hand and wrist that would move correctly, even if they were untrained.

This is the picture Paul is painting in I Corinthians 12. We are all members of one body, joined together, we each have our part to play in keeping the body of Christ healthy and whole.

When we allow prejudice and doctrine to separate us we are bringing cancer into the body of Christ. When we are jealous of what some other Christian has or is doing and wonder why we weren’t able to be in the lime light and do this or that we cause damage to the body.

This is exactly what our enemy wants to happen. Just as he works to destroy our physical bodies, he works to cause dis-ease in the body of Christ. He knows if he can cause division of the members, get us out of joint, the pain will keep us from being effective for Christ.

“A person has only one body, but it has many parts. Yes, there are many parts, but all those parts are still just one body. Christ is like that too…14 And a person’s body has more than one part. It has many parts. 15 The foot might say, “I am not a hand, so I don’t belong to the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. 16 The ear might say, “I am not an eye, so I don’t belong to the body.” But saying this would not make the ear stop being a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell anything. 18-19 If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But as it is, God put the parts in the body as he wanted them. He made a place for each one. 20 So there are many parts, but only one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!” 22 No, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are actually very important. 23 And the parts that we think are not worth very much are the parts we give the most care to. And we give special care to the parts of the body that we don’t want to show. 24 The more beautiful parts don’t need this special care. But God put the body together and gave more honor to the parts that need it. 25 God did this so that our body would not be divided. God wanted the different parts to care the same for each other. 26 If one part of the body suffers, then all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part is honored, then all the other parts share its honor. 27 All of you together are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of that body.” I Corinthians 12:12-27 ERV

Each morning I pray and thank God for health and healing in my body and that of my family. As I was writing this this morning I was convicted that I need to pray daily for health and healing in the body of Christ.

Will you join me? We have some hurting parts and they need our love and compassion to help them as they heal!

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Broke is Broke

When we first moved into our house we noticed that one of the bedroom windows had a rock chip in it. Yes, the bedroom window. We figured it must have been someone working with a weed eater and a small rock was pitched up and hit the window. The window was shattered so we didn’t think too much about it at the time.

However, broke is broke! We should have asked for it to be replaced. You see we have dual pain windows and that chip released the seal between the panes, the gas escaped and now the view through the window is cloudy.

Broke is broke and sin is sin!

With God there is no big or little sin, it’s sin. Look at the two brothers in the story of the prodigal son. The younger son in the story was guilty of some pretty “big” things while the older son looked respectable but he was obviously holding bitterness in his heart toward his younger brother and his father. Which do you think was worse?

Neither! Sin is sin. Kind of like my broken window; if a brick had shattered it or the little chip cracked it and broke the seal the result was the same. The window was broken.

“One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ If you obey this law, you are doing right. 9 But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law. 10 You might follow all of God’s law. But if you fail to obey only one command, you are guilty of breaking all the commands in that law.” James 2:8-10 ERV

The Old Testament teaches us that God hates gossip and murder yet we find one more socially acceptable than the other. Sin is sin and we are all guilty.  The penalty for sin is not based on a sliding scale.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT

“When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ERV

Jesus words were so powerful when he spoke to the Pharisees about the adulterous woman. They felt superior to this obviously sinful woman but they were willing to overlook their own sins of deception and self-righteousness.

“They were saying this to trick Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong so that they could have a charge against him. But Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.” 8 Then Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground.” John 8:6-8 ERV

How many times have we played the role of the Pharisees or the older brother? We condemn “the idiot driver”, the person holding up the line, the unintelligent cashier, the negligent phone representative, the ill-informed newscaster or worst of all, the person with an opposite viewpoint than ours.

What they are doing may certainly be wrong but when we judge our attitude about the situation is equally as wrong. We are to do all that we do from a loving and compassionate heart.

Since God sees all sin the same, He makes the payment for that sin the same.

“So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life.” Romans 5:18 ERV

We have forgiveness, payment for our sin, with the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice is available to all – we simply need to receive it!

“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 KJV

I’m so glad that God doesn’t grade on a curve but He accepts us all. It’s not based on what we’ve done but on what Jesus did!

Now that’s called grace!!!

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No Playing Favorites

One verse keeps going over and over in my mind this morning. It has to do with our position in Christ.

“Peter began to speak: ‘I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others:’” Acts 10:34 ERV

This verse should bring a real sense of peace and encouragement to each and every one of us. Perhaps you are someone who grew up battling low self-esteem. You weren’t the prettiest or the smartest or the best athlete or the richest or the most blah, blah, blah…Whatever and whoever, you were just never the best. 

Or maybe you lived on the other end of the spectrum and had always felt that you were one of the elite; the special, the ones that everyone wanted to be like – you were all that and a bag of chips!

But how does God see you? Yesterday I used these verses but they bear repeating.

“You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This shows that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 28 Now, in Christ, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or free, male or female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28 ERV

Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, man or woman, free or enslaved, high society or from the wrong side of the tracks, none of this matters; what matters is that you are in Christ!  Don’t be held back in your walk with the Lord thinking that others are better, more spiritual, more acceptable to God or that they are less than you. God’s love is the same to all. Even before we accept Him, He loved us.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 ERV

Jesus loved the lowly as much as He loved the highly esteemed in society. He came to bring life to the leper and the Pharisee, the harlot and the lawyer. The difference was their opinion of themselves and their willingness to ask for and receive salvation.

Nicodemus, a high ranking religious leader, came to Jesus by night. Coming by day, he might be seen. “What will the neighbors think? What about the guys at the club?”  It was to this man, Nicodemus, that Jesus said you must be born again. You must be born from the Spirit and then Jesus spoke to him of God’s amazing love.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. 18 People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. But people who do not believe are already judged, because they have not believed in God’s only Son. 19 They are judged by this fact: The light has come into the world. But they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light. They will not come to the light, because the light will show all the bad things they have done. 21 But anyone who follows the true way comes to the light. Then the light will show that whatever they have done was done through God.” John 3:16-21 ERV

Today, make it a point to let God show His love to you and through you!

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He’s Talking to Me

Today we’re going to continue with the our teaching on In Christ and In Him.

As we read through Paul’s writings, let’s stop each time we come across the phrases in Him or in Christ and say “he’s talking to me”. We will see what God has to say about us, who we really are. It’s our identity in Christ.

We’re not just an old sinner saved by grace; we were an old sinner and it was definitely the grace of God that brought us salvation but our new you is free from guilt – no longer a sinner but a saint.  Do you sin? Yes, but that’s not who we are. As we begin to look at the new creature God has created and chosen us to be, we will become less aware of sin and more confident of the righteousness that we  have in Christ Jesus.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death. 3 The law was without power because it was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do: He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that everyone else uses for sin. God sent him to be an offering to pay for sin. So God used a human life to destroy sin. 4 He did this so that we could be right just as the law said we must be. Now we don’t live following our sinful selves. We live following the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4 ERV

This group of verses that I am going to use this morning have both “in Him” and “in Christ” in the text. I use these verses a lot but they are filled with such great meaning that they should be foundational truths in each of our lives.

“From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. 17 When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.”  II Corinthians 5:16-21 ERV

Verse 16 is very telling. Paul says we are not to think of people as the world sees them. He compares this to the way he looked at Christ. Originally Paul set out to destroy the Christians. He thought the message of Christ, being the Son of God, was heresy and he would arrest the Christians and have them imprisoned and killed.  But once he met Christ on the road to Damascus, his life was completely changed!  He knows what he’s talking about when he goes on in verse 17 and says that “IN CHRIST” it’s a whole new world – things are completely changed.

These verses say that God the Father was “in Christ”.  God the Father placed Himself, all His character, all His power, all His love “in Christ” to bring peace to us.  It goes on to say that God isn’t holding us guilty for our sin.  We have been freed from sin and have been given the mandate to share the peace and freedom we have with the world.

The war is over – the war of Satan and sin to keep us separated from God; the guilt and condemnation that once kept man from having peace with God has been atoned for in Christ.  This was the work Jesus was sent to do and His last words on the cross were “It is finished”!  His purpose on earth was complete; the sinless, spotless Son of God died to give us new life!!  I hope you’re shouting by now because this is GOOD NEWS!

And finally the last verse in this passage sums it all up.  ” 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God”.  

The great exchange – our sin for His righteousness.  When God looks at us He doesn’t see our sin, that has been covered over by the blood of Jesus and what He sees is that we are righteous, acceptable and dearly loved.

This is God’s message to us!

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