Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Morning and Evening: 01/28
Tuesday, January 27, 2009—posted by Jeremy Damato
ยป Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible
Morning: Colossians 1:28
Perfect in Christ Jesus
I felt like I really blew my opportunity to impress the other night when I did a presentation for work. I knew that I had another chance to make up for it but my presentation Monday evening was a little less than inspiring. I think I confused more people than I educated. But Tuesday brought hope and sure enough all went well. Have you ever felt a little like that spiritually? Maybe you blew it big time or maybe it was failing to live up to what was required of you. Sure, we all know that to be a routine aspect of the Christian life. But, I am not here to tell you that you can have your best life now by following the next seven steps to maximize happiness and feel better about yourself. Instead, we preach the message of the Gospel. We're sinners who fail because we're fallen. But we have been redeemed by and reconciled to God. In that process we have been given the perfect righteousness of Christ. He has presented "every man" (and woman) perfect in Christ. That means that when I sin I'm not cast out. When I fail, God sees me as though I was victorious. It does not mean that I am led to sin because grace covers me but it does mean that I can have full assurance when I do!
Evening: Luke 2:20
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
They went back, they did not stay complacent. They went back to their fields and back to the very people that called them unworthy to be around. God made them audience to a vast host of angelic voices and then beckoned them to the very throne room of God on earth. But back at home they were not accepted. Back at their jobs they had no status. Rather than interpret this truth by thinking that they were worthy of praise and significance they clearly saw that it was God who was valuable. Their response was glory to God, not to self.
"Let us, then, glorify and praise God for a Savior so precious, and so satisfying." (Spurgeon, p. 57)
Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon
posted by Jeremy Damato|
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4 Comments:
Thanks for your thoughts on this Jeremy... I can relate to your work analogy. Our assurance before our Father is praiseworthy! I can rest and find an infinite amount of comfort in the truth you touched on, "...when I sin, I'm not cast out."
Thank You Christ for Your finished work on the cross!! Thank You for seeing me in Your righteousness!!
Thanks Matt. And like you mentioned- all praise and glory go to our King and Lord Jesus Christ.
Another gem Jeremy, thanks brother. It is so encouraging to know that He will continue to perfect the good work started in us all the way to the appearing of Christ (cf. Phil. 1:6). Our being reconciled to God is the only hope we have as sinners (cf. Rom 5:10). This in not some 'pie in the sky' fable that tells us to live our best life now. As MacArthur puts it, "you are living your best life now...if you're not a Christian."
Cory, great quote from MacArthur. I will have to plagiarize that at some point. :-)
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