6-21-2019

Good Morning All,

         Romans 5:19; “For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.”

    I will always treasure the time I spent umpiring baseball.  Umpiring baseball is always a unique experience.  Baseball, in and of itself, is a very unique game. What most people don’t realize is that if you follow the rules to the letter, the umpire can do no wrong.  Whatever the umpire calls; that is the right call. 

    Now that is quite a statement; I know, however; that is an accurate statement.  There truly is no appeal or questioning the umpire.  Now most umpires know that they are human and know that they can miss or mistake a play.  When in doubt, most will ask the other umpires for help or advice.  That is the way you should do it; get it right.  Yet, if the umpire calls the runner “safe”; he is safe.  It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks or says.  If the umpire calls the runner safe; he is safe.

    It is also important to note that what the umpire calls is right.  You don’t get to claim that the runner is really out but the umpire called him safe.  The runner is safe because the umpire called him safe.  The game continues and the runner is safe and if he scores; it counts.  What the umpire calls becomes the reality.

    This is how it is for us before God.  We become the righteousness of God not because we earned it but because God declared it so.  No matter how many times the devil or the world try to tell you that “you really are bad; God just missed the call”; it simply is not true.  You are righteous because God says so.  Through his omnipotent power he is the judge of everything.  When God declares you righteous because of Jesus; you are righteous.

    Nothing matters other than God judgment.  He has judged us righteous because of Jesus’ sacrifice.  Because of this we are holy; we are righteous before God; that is the “call” he makes and that is the right one.  Life goes on from there.  At that point, we are destined to be saved by his grace alone.  We are declared righteous and no matter what anyone else thinks, says, saw or claims; God has declared us truly holy and righteous.

    The beauty of this is that now we are the redeemed children of God with all the rights and privileges that the children of the king have.  We are now able to boldly come before God’s throne and call him Father.  We are able to come to him with our fears and worries and leave them with him for him to remove.  This is the wonder of God’s grace.  God declares you to be righteous and you are.  God declares you to be his and you are.  God declares you to be saved and you are.

Dear Father, your mercies are new every day.  Give us the courage and strength to trust in your declaration of righteousness.  Lead us to trust in your word.  Show us your wonderful grace that we may live eternally with you.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret