1-16-2019

Good Morning All,

       Romans 3:24; “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

    I remember watching a movie a number of years ago where the main character was always on the run trying to escape from a bill collector.  It was a comedy that starred James Garner and was a western.  He was chasing someone who stole all his money.  If the bill collector caught him; he would go to jail.  He had to catch the thief in order to pay the bills off.  He would sneak out windows, hide in horse stalls, dress like a woman and all sorts of other escapades.  In the end, he catches up with the thief, and a long-lost girlfriend, pays off his debt and gets the girl. 

    In a way, you and I are running from debt collectors.  We owe a lot of debt.  It is always interesting to me how much of the New Testament language uses finance language when talking about sin.  Sin is a debt or an obligation which needs to be settled.  Sometimes we read about settling of accounts.  When Jesus speaks the words “It is finished” on the cross, these have the connotation that the debt is paid.  When Jesus tells his parables many times they are about someone owing a debt and unable to pay it.  There is a debt to be paid and someone has to pay it; fortunately for us Jesus paid this debt.

    This is why we emphasize the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is how the debt is paid.  We can never be “good enough”, we can never “deserve” eternal life.  Our eternal “reward” should be hell, forever trying to pay off our debt but that debt is paid and we can rest, and live, in peace.

     The devil will try to drive us to despair.  The devil will always try and convince you that not every debt is paid.  He will try to convince you that there are some debts that just can’t be paid and he will try to convince you that you have some “hidden” sin that when God and everyone sees just how bad you are; well that is the end of you.  All are lies; lies designed to cause you pain and doubt.  Lies design to lead you away from God.

    God displays his great love for us by Jesus.  By sending his Son to die for us, God is displaying the perfect love that only God can give.  The devil cannot beat this; he can only cloud our vision of its truth.  Jesus’ perfect life, given for us, gives us perfect redemption.  It is here that we see our sins paid for and eternal life, for us, secure.  There is no need for us to hide or try to run away; God’s great mercy keeps calling us home to the safety of his loving arms.  It is here that we find shelter, not some horse stall.  It is in Gods loving embrace that we can rest. 

Father of all mercies, in you we have hope.  We thank you for your great and wondrous forgiveness which we receive through Jesus.  Lead us to ever look to you for our hope.  Be with those who are being tested and tempted by the devil.  Give them your Spirit that they may always know of your love for them.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret