“O Lord, You have
searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You
understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and
are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my
tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. ...where can I flee from Your
presence?” Psalm 139:1-4, 7
Depending on your current relationship with GOD, a reading
of these scripture verses written by King David (Psalm
139) will either warm your heart or make
you uneasy.
We naturally feel remorse when we our actions hurt the
people we love.
Do you say you love GOD but continue to make life choices that grieve Him? If so, being reminded that GOD is an omniscient being (all-knowing,
all-seeing, all-wise) who knows your every thought and action ought to make you
uneasy.
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and
exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable:” Hebrews
4:13 reminds us also of GOD’s omniscience but tells us in addition that everyone answers to Him for their actions. However, for those who have the
right to be called children of GOD (John
1:12), the Father Himself gives you absolution so you can escape eternal damnation and
death.
You have a great High Priest Who chose to bear all your sin before GOD, so you don’t have to. Hebrews 4:14-15
JESUS lived here on earth as the GOD Man Who was tempted in all the ways
you were but He never sinned. Fully
righteous, with no stain of sin, JESUS went to the cross as the perfect Lamb of
GOD to atone for the sin of the world. The moment you repented of your sin and
trusted in JESUS as Savior and LORD, you were reconciled back to GOD and are
now His righteousness in CHRIST (2 Corinthians
5:21.)
But even in His righteousness, you’re vulnerable to sin while in the world.
You mess up. You think and behave in ways that are inappropriate for a child of
GOD. Scripture declares we all sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8.) The great New Testament teacher and apostle Paul admitted that
he struggled to do what was right over what pleased his flesh. But Paul found assurance
in GOD’s promise of his eternal deliverance as one united with CHRIST. (Romans 7: 19-25.)
GOD will deliver you too.
CHRIST JESUS is the open door through which believers can boldly approach
GOD’s throne of grace when they fall. "...approach
the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help us in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
Christian author Robert J. Morgan defines the terms
mercy and grace used here this way:
“Mercy is God’s attitude of forgiveness in not
giving us what we do deserve. Grace is His attitude of blessing and benevolence
in giving us what we do not deserve.”
GOD has but one response to your honest repentance – forgiveness. But
then GOD does what a loving parent does when their child shows true remorse and
repents for disobedience. He enfolds you in His loving embrace – His grace.
Grace that gently and patiently encourages you to do better next time; grace
that lovingly and with compassion reaffirms your position as a loved and cherished
part of His family; grace that opens the storehouse to all the richness of your
Father’s provision to you for the asking, and as you need it.
More than
any earthly father, GOD wants you to experience the best life, not just now,
but for all eternity. As a part of His Body, the Church, GOD is after your
eternal soul. He wants to present you to Himself without spot or wrinkle, holy
and blameless. (Ephesians
5:27)
And you have the ability to be intentional in making godly choices (Romans 6.)
In CHRIST JESUS you can.
“…consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but
alive to GOD in CHRIST JESUS.” Romans
6:11
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Omniscient Father of mercy and grace, we thank YOU
for your continuing presence in our lives. Forgive us when we stray from YOUR
goodness and go our own way. Thank YOU for YOUR loving-kindness and JESUS our High Priest by Whom we can be reconciled with YOU. To you belong all dominion and power
for ever and ever. We pray in the name of JESUS, our LORD and Savior. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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