Day 56: Understanding Christ’s Sacrifice

Colossians 2, 3, 4; 1 Thessalonians 1, 2

Do you believe that Christ is all in all and that He alone is sufficient for all life?  When we were dead in our transgressions and our sinful nature, God made us alive with Christ.  While reading Paul’s letters to the Colossians, I was humbled at Paul’s plight.  The encouragement from Paul should serve the purpose of being united in love and partake in the full riches of complete understanding with each other.

⁶So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:6-8

Paul asks them to have Christ’s sacrifice and gift to exude in all of their actions, words and thoughts.

Dear Lord, How imperfect am I, to still be confined to a worldly life despite your sacrifice.  Help me to truly wash my hands from submitting to the rules of this earth with self imposed worship, false humility and the harsh treatment of my body.  Help me to prioritize those thing that matter – to clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Allow me to work at the sincerity of my heart and reverence for you alone, not for men.  Teach me to devote in prayer and to be thankful always.  Grant me the peace within to stand firm in your will – spiritually mature and fully assured in my salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 38: Peace & Joy

Romans 5, 6, 7

By being justified in our faith, we have the luxury of being granted peace and joy.  Think of it.  Regardless of what we’ve done, by coming and repenting before God and truly abiding by His instructions – we get to experience peace.  This, however, does not mean that we will be free of stress, pain and hurt.  Why?  Being saved does not reflect on the ease of life.  It means quite the contrary.

³Not only so, but we^[a] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

Is this not true?  Isn’t suffering the root of becoming a stronger person – to persevere – to build character?  It draws upon your trust and faith in Him.  I realized this just recently.  When I had what I thought I needed (job, money, love, friends), it was hard for me to grasp the concept of complete trust and faith.  It made me quite the sad believer.  I wasn’t sure why I felt this way.  When my stability was taken away from me, my inner faith had to burst through.  It was then, that I realized that God does provide.  He provided me with a peace and joy that I will never be able explain – but will forever be grateful.

Dear Lord: Thank you for granting me peace and joy through the marvelous sacrifice of your Son’s blood.  I realize more and more that it isn’t the earthly things that provide me with peace and joy, but your grace, forgiveness and the gift of my salvation.  Thank you for loving me, even though I am a sinner, enough to sacrifice your one and only Son. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 22: His Sacrifice For Us

John 2, 3, 4

 ¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18

This promise is so great. Coming as far as 22 days of reading into His Word, it brought tears to my eyes, to read what He had done and sacrificed.  It truly resonated in my heart of the sacrifice God had made within his only Son, for the sins of man.  He loves us that much and we all take it for granted. 

Dear Lord, to read the sacrifice you made for the sake of all of your children on this earth, meant so much.  It’s as if I was finally able to truly grasp the sacrifice that you have made in your one and only son.  I thank you so much for this ultimate sacrifice. Amen.

Day 8: The Magnificence of The Lord’s Supper

Day 8: Matthew 24, 25, 26

I wonder what the Lord’s Supper prior to Christ’s death was like.  To have 12 of your loved disciples all around you, listening in utter shock, the prophecy that would come to fulfillment in mere moments.  A table of love and devotion, one that I can say I don’t have at all times – must have been such a strong and spiritual environment.

To be able to partake in Christ’s  body and blood with Him is something that I read and get convicted by.

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the^[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
³⁰When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:26-30

I leave today with these powerful words that only remind us of the blameless Son of Man that Christ was and the sacrifice he made for us, our sins and inequities.

Father, grant me a softened heart.  Allow me to understand the true sacrifice that your son made for us.  Let that be the one that drives our spiritual walk to be closer to You and Your word.

Day 7: How to Get Eternal Life

Day 7: Matthew 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

The parable that struck me in the most magnificent way was that of the rich young man (Matthew 19:16-30).  Who, that walks in the light of God, doesn’t come across this struggle almost on a daily basis?  What do I need to give up for eternal life?

At first, Christ explained that “There is only One who is good.  if you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”  Matthew 19:17

What would those commandments be?   Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and moth and love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:18-19

Yet this was not enough – for those who do follow these commandments, they may find themselves asking, “what more can I do?”

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21

Isn’t this what we all stumble?  Relinquishing all of our earthly possessions to follow God?  In a society, where we have been cultivated to rely on these earthly possessions as a means of survival have created that empty feeling of being both in the world and in Christ.

Who then can be saved?

With a simple answer, Jesus comforts all who are battling this question on a daily basis.  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Dear Father,

I pray that as I struggle daily on being given eternal life, that I may find comfort in your words.  That it truly isn’t by my own accord but by God that all things are possible.  Help me learn and understand to totally break down the earthly walls that confine me so that I may give my life completely to you.  In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.