WEDNESDAYS DEVOTION :)

[Guest guest]

FROM: THE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE DEVOTIONAL

BY ROBERT S. MCGEE

MOTIVATIONS FOR OBEDIENCE

THEREFORE HAVING BEEN

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE

PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

_______________________ROMANS 5:1

SOME PEOPLE HAVE DIFFICULTY THINKING OF THEMSELVES AS BEING PLEASING

TO GOD BECAUSE THEY LINK *PLEASING* SO STRONGLY WITH PERFORMANCE. THEY

TEND TO BE DISPLEASED WITH ANYTHING SHORT OF PERFECTION IN THEMSELVES,

AND SUSPECT THAT GOD HAS THE SAME STANDARD.

THE POINT OF JUSTIFICATION IS THAT WE CAN NEVER ACHIEVE PERFECTION ON

THIS EARTH; EVEN OUR BEST EFFORTS AT SELF- RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE AS FILTHY

RAGS TO GOD (ISAIAH 64:6). YET, HE LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE APPOINTED

HIS SON TO PAY FOR OUR SINS AND GIVE TO US HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, HIS

PERFECT STATUS BEFORE GOD.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR ACTIONS ARE IRRELEVANT, AND THAT WE CAN

SIN ALL WE WANT. OUR SINFUL ACTIONS, WORDS, AND ATTITUDES GRIEVE THE

LORD, BUT OUR STATUS AS BELOVED CHILDREN REMAINS INTACT. IN HIS LOVE, HE

DISCIPLINES AND ENCOURAGES US TO LIVE GODLY LIVES----BOTH FOR OUR GOOD

AND FOR HIS HONOR.

THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS SO ENAMORED WITH HIS FORGIVENESS AND

RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST THAT HE WAS INTENSELY MOTIVATED TO PLEASE GOD BY

HIS ACTIONS AND HIS DEEDS. IN 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:9;

PHILIPPIANS 3:8-11, AND IN OTHER PASSAGES, PAUL STRONGLY STATED HIS

DESIRE TO PLEASE, HONOR, AND GLORIFY THE ONE WHO HAD MADE HIM RIGHTEOUS.

SOME PEOPLE MAY READ THESE STATEMENTS AND BECOME UNEASY, BELIEVING

THAT I AM DISCOUNTING THE GRAVITY OF SIN. AS YOU WILL SEE, I AM NOT

MINIMIZING THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF SIN, BUT AM SIMPLY TRYING TO

ELEVATE OUR VIEW OF THE RESULTS OF CHRIST'S PAYMENT ON THE CROSS.

UNDERSTANDING OUR COMPLETE FORGIVENESS AND ACCEPTANCE BEFORE GOD DOES

NOT PROMOTE A CASUAL ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN. ON THE CONTRARY, IT GIVES US A

GREATER DESIRE TO LIVE FOR AND SERVE THE ONE WHO DIED TO FREE US FROM

SIN.

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HOW DOES BEING JUSTIFIED AND HAVING CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS LEAD YOU TO

THE CONCLUSION " *I AM COMPLETELY FORGIVEN BY GOD, AND AM FULLY PLEASING

TO HIM?*

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GOD, AS I REFLECT ON THE MAGNITUDE OF YOUR FORGIVENESS AND UNCONDITIONAL

LOVE FOR ME, I FEEL . . . .

GENTLEHUGS AND PRAYERS

SAM