Nov 26 2024

Today's Bible Verse

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

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In this verse, John reminds us that our sins have been forgiven once and for all. Jesus made it possible for us to be wiped clean of all our wrongs. Because of Him, we are able to stand before God completely clean, as if in robes of white that signify our own purity. Today, let's think about the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us.

Have you ever done something wrong and immediately regretted it? I certainly have. In fact, I can think of instances in my life where I despised the little voice in my head that convicted me and instead went ahead with my own plans. The feeling afterward was terrible. Indeed, I've heard it said that there is no one more miserable than a Christian living in sin. When we sin, we wound God and reject His promises, putting a chasm between us. And as Christians, we feel that deeply.

Jesus was the bridge for the chasm. When He died on the cross, He made it possible for us to be forgiven of everything sinful that we have ever done or will ever do. This shows us the severity of sin. God cannot simply overlook our wrongs; blood had to be shed for them. At the same time, He is too loving for us to be forever separated from Him, which sin leads to. The solution was Jesus' death on the cross. Because He satisfied God's justice, we can receive grace when we come before the Lord with repentant hearts.

When John Newton wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, he truly realized the forgiveness that God had given him. As a former slave trader, Newton knew he had hurt many people. When he became a Christian, he left that profession and became a priest. He knew that Jesus had forgiven him, and his only response was to reflect on the grace that God had shown him… properly calling it amazing.

We are no different from John Newton. We live in the wake of amazing grace, in the forgiveness that is freely given to us even though we could never deserve it. That's how much God loves us.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for your forgiveness, and for loving me so much. Thank you for the grace that you have shown me through my salvation, and for all of the mercy that you show me each day. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Nov 25 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.:

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Yesterday's Bible study

In Psalm 37, King David writes about how sometimes it seems like the wicked prosper while the righteous struggle. The Psalm promises that justice will come, that God will remember those who sought and tried to be faithful to Him. The verse shows us that God is our strength in times of trouble and that the righteous are saved through Him. Let's think about what that means.

The beginning of the verse says, "the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord," which means that God promises to save those who are righteous. If we continue to seek and serve Him, even when it seems like we're suffering, He will continue to be with us and help us. We can have confidence that the Lord will encourage and help us to remain faithful to the end.

The second half of the verse says that God is our strength in times of trouble. This means He will be with us when we are facing difficult times. He does not disappear when we are in pain, nor does He hide when we are suffering. Rather, He cares about us so much that He will be right next to us.

God also promises to hear our prayers when we face trouble. He expects us to call out to Him, and when we do, He will gladly help us. While we might not actually escape trouble, He will comfort us and encourage our hearts and spirits in Him as we pray.

Finally, we can look to the hope that we have in our future. We know that one day all sin will be defeated once and for all, and all pain and suffering will be no more. We will live with God in Heaven, a perfect kingdom for His glory. This life and our troubles are fleeting; eternity with God lasts forever.

Each of these truths about God—that He is with us, hears our prayers, and promises eternity with Him—gives us strength in times of trouble. They put our suffering into perspective, reminding us that the most important parts of our lives are never in jeopardy. God will always be faithful, true, and just, and He is our salvation and strength forever.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for being my strength at all times. Thank you for being my salvation and for sustaining me always. I love you, Lord, and I am so grateful that you are with me in all circumstances. In Jesus' name, amen.
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