GiftofGod | Kristi's Morning Devotional

January 25, 2024January 25, 2024

Once For All

Today I am going to say very little, but I do want you to read a longer passage of Scripture. One reason, I think, we have such a hard time in believing God and His love for us is because of we are keenly aware of our shortcomings and our sin.

We know ourselves better than anyone else. We know our failures and our secret or hidden thoughts. But God knows those too and He has provided forgiveness.

As we read His word today, let it sink in. We are who God says we are and He says we are forgiven, cleansed and unconditionally loved. Believe Him!!

“The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. ²If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. ^3-4But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.

⁵ When Christ came into the world, he said to God,

“Sacrifices and offerings
    are not what you want,
but you have given me
    my body.
⁶No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
    and offerings for sin.”

⁷Then Christ said,

“And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say.”

⁸The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? ⁹Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” ¹⁰So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.

¹¹ The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. ¹² But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, ¹³and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. ¹⁴By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.

¹⁵The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,

¹⁶‘When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
    with them.
I will write my laws
    on their minds and hearts.
¹⁷Then I will forget
    about their sins
and no longer remember
    their evil deeds.’

¹⁸When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.” Hebrews 10:1-18 CEV

Christ sacrifice for our sins was made ONCE. Christ sacrifice was FOR ALL who have sinned. We are forgiven – ONCE FOR ALL!

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023

How Much?

Yesterday I was scrolling through the notes on my phone when I came across this reminder, My Redeemer Lives.

I spent the next several minutes allowing that statement to sink in, again! In fact, I’m doing it again now. Don’t rush forward in reading this, just meditate on that truth for a few more minutes.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NLT

Redeem: “Redeem means to buy back, regain possession of, or exchange something for money or goods. It also means to free or rescue someone or something from distress, harm, captivity, or obligation by paying a price, sacrifice, or performance. Additionally, it means to make something better or more acceptable by improving or correcting it.”

To buy back. At what cost, how much?

“The Law does not use faith. It says, ‘You must obey all the Law or you will die.’¹³Christ bought us with His blood and made us free from the Law. In that way, the Law could not punish us. Christ did this by carrying the load and by being punished instead of us. It is written, ‘Anyone who hangs on a cross is hated and punished.’ ¹⁴Because of the price Christ Jesus paid, the good things that came to Abraham might come to the people who are not Jews. And by putting our trust in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit He has promised.” Galatians 3:12-14 NLV

How much??

Jesus secured our redemption with His life!

Never, ever underestimate the value that the heavenly Father has placed on us. He paid the highest price possible for our redemption, the life of His Son.

“You know you were not bought and made free from sin by paying gold or silver which comes to an end. And you know you were not saved from the punishment of sin by the way of life that you were given from your early fathers. That way of life was worth nothing. ¹⁹The blood of Christ saved you. This blood is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it. Christ was given as a lamb without sin and without spot.” I Peter 1:18-19 NLV

Let’s go back to my opening thought and change just one word. OUR Redeemer lives.

Christ gave His life as a ransom for many. We are that many. He paid the price of our redemption and now He lives to see that the blessings His Father promised come to pass in our lives.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³²Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:31-32 NLT

How much? Jesus paid it all. There is no further payment for our redemption. It is a gift from God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

February 7, 2022February 7, 2022

The Delivery

I can’t even begin to tell you how many deliveries we have had since we took possession of our new home. There are so many little things I couldn’t find after the move or I didn’t think I’d need any longer and sold, only to replace them.

It’s one thing to receive a delivery of something I’ve ordered but there’s a completely separate emotion and excitement when I see that it is something which has been sent by a friend or family member.

Never once have I taken that unexpected arrival, set it on the table and left it to be opened later. No, it’s one of those “find the box knife and open it carefully” moments. Everything about this unexpected gift says it’s special.

I was remembering this morning the boxes my Mom used to send when I was in college. The boxes would be wrapped in brown paper and there would be stickers or handwritten drawings on the wrapping. Inside there were cookies, homemade candies, a favorite magazine, stationery and stamps – little things that told me she loved me.

Now, imagine today one of those delivery drivers stops at your house with a package. You don’t recognize the store or the return address. It’s addressed to you but from whom?

It’s the most wonderful gift ever! You’re overcome with emotion. Tears stream down your face; words can’t express the gratitude. You are overwhelmed and now you grab the phone and call the giver of this precious gift and say, “I’m sorry I can’t receive this. I don’t deserve it and I’ll be sending it back.” Really? No, not at all. You call and express your gratitude and love, or at least that’s what I would do.

Do you know that this is exactly what God has done for us? Let me show you.

““All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. 25-26 God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people’s sins through their faith in him. God can forgive them because the blood sacrifice of Jesus pays for their sins. God gave Jesus to show that he always does what is right and fair. He was right in the past when he was patient and did not punish people for their sins. And in our own time he still does what is right. God worked all this out in a way that allows him to judge people fairly and still make right any person who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26 ERV

God’s great grace and love gave us something we didn’t deserve. Something we won’t ever earn, something we will never be able to buy. It’s a gift!

It’s a gift of love that comes straight from the Father’s heart. The gift is new life, a relationship with God the Father. We’re saved from the punishment of sin. Jesus took the punishment for us! Why? To show us through all the time to come that He loves us.

I feel I have been given the job of the delivery driver. I get to bring the gift to your home. Once you open it, make sure you call the Father and thank Him for this amazing gift of love!