And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8 KJV
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”Revelation 5:5-7, 9-10 ESV
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22 ESV
TRUST2KNOW,MERCY IS FREE BUT IT WASN’T CHEAP! TRUTHBTOLD…NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD!
Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.”I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. Hosea 14:3-4ESV
One of the most controversial and gravely undervalued Biblical principles of Christianity is, watch out Y’ALL…’REPENTANCE’! Like the Ol Skool Preacha used to say, “I guess I done lost half my church, huh?”
While many 21st Century Biblical Scholars typically shun broaching the very suggestion, much less accept its validity or even legitimacy. Yet, last time I checked, it’s still in The Book. In fact, personally, I most ardently believe that a careful inspection of the Holy Writ emphatically implicates its ETERNAL significance! Without ‘GODLY REPENTANCE‘, can there ever be trueSalvation?#Don’tshoutmedownnah!
According to 2 Peter 3:9“The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Still, given the propensity of humanity to push the envelope to see just how close we can get to the world and not step outside The Shadow of God’s Grace, we often gravitate to our pet axioms in an attempt to excuse or justify our rebelliousness, like “After all, ain’t nobody perfect”, “Pray for me I’m not there yet”; and we can’t exclude this one, “God knows my heart!”
In our Scripture Text we see God’s Servant, Hosea, reminding his people how gracious the Lord has been to them, the consequences of their sin; he desperately pleads for the Nation of Israel to turn back to God before provoking His Hand culminating in their ultimate downfall and destruction.
“Oh Israel, return unto the LORD thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity!” Hosea 14:1
At the same time, The Prophet begs God to remember His Love, Mercy and Patience! Nevertheless, the peoples hearts had become fallow ground, hardened by their sin lustingdesires and unrelenting spiritual whoredom, they refused to hear Hosea’s plea, heaping unto themselves false religious practices thereby inciting the bitterness of God’s Anger and Wrath!
Not unlike many church folk today, our forefathers foolishly attempted to mock God’s Favor, as if He was their Lucky Charm or Spiritual Sugar Daddy, who could be pushed aside until needed! Their persistent rejection, blatantly minimized His Righteous expectation that they would respond to His Goodness with gratitude, faithful obedience and devotion!
How often have we been guilty of neglecting that other side of God’s Righteousness aka Justice?#JJJEEESSSUUUSSSS!
But ThanksB2GOD, HE IS LONGSUFFERING! He allows us more than ample opportunities to come to the end of ourselves and realize that we need Him a whole lot more than He evrrrr needs us! TRUTHBTOLD, without His Help, none of us could exist!
TRUTHBTOLD, we misconstrue GODLY REPENTANCE with “I’m sorry” followed up by the shedding of a few tears! Needless to say our interpretation falls way short of God’s Intent! GODLY REPENTANCE first acknowledges that we have violated God’s Righteous Commands and that nothing besides God can save us. Next, GODLY REPENTANCE requites a change of mind and heart about Sin. We must not see it as something to be loved but hated and abominated! Finally, GODLY REPENTANCE requires a change of will and behavior followed up by turning away from sin to God for pardon and forgiveness!
OMG! I feel a tomato throwing spirit in the house!
Hosea concludes his message admonishing those who have an ear to hear to carefully contemplate the prudent wisdom presented to them, consummate their intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father by making a irrevocable decision and commitment to forsake all else and embrace the leading of The True and Living God of All Power, Provision, Consolation and Comfort!
#DIDJAHEARDAT? WELL? #HOW’BOUTU?
BCUZ, SOMETIMES SAYING UR SORRY AIN’T ENOUGH! #IJS
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our LORD Jesus Christ; By whom also we have access by faith into THIS GRACE wherein we STAND, and REJOICE in HOPE IN THE GLORY OF GOD! Romans 5:1-2
OMG! DIDJACDAT? TALK ABOUT LIBERATION, huh?
There’s a word being blasted throughout news networks and social media these days, “ACQUITTAL”. While the debate rages on about whether or not the trial is legal or even relevant, undoubtedly history will determine the significance or insignificance of unbiased accountability! Nevertheless, none with escape this world unjudged by The RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME SOVEREIGN JUDGE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH! #ijs!!
How many of God’s Elect have bein bamboozled (my word) by all of their self incriminating evidence, instigated by Satanic threatening accusations, robbing them of the joyful experience of walking in the full benefits of their personal relationship IN CHRIST JESUS! Let me be the 1st one to raise both my hands!!
TRUTHBTOLD,NOT ONE of us deserves suchGIFT OF DIVINE GRACIOUSNESS AND MERCY! (SALVATION) and TRUST2KNO, GOD KNEW EXACTLY WHO AND WHAT HE WAS GETTING when HE offered up His Son in exchange for you and me! Yet, according to The Holy Writ, ‘ITPLEASED THE FATHER’ TO SACRIFICE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of RIGHTEOUSNESS as propitiation (Eternal Collateral) for our unrighteousness!(Ref. Isaiah 53:10) AWEMAAZING, huh?
I mean, who among us can claim that our good works (or feeble attempts to adhere to religious rituals) have earned this treasure! Even on our BESTEST day, we all fall far short of OF THIS GLORY! In fact, who can honestly say that they were looking for Him or striving to live a life pleasing and acceptable to Him when He snatched us up out of our sinful lusting spiritual stupor and shined the Glorious Light of The Gospel into our hearts? NOT ME! But GRACE and MERCY refused to be intimidated by our messiness! The SAME GOD who ‘calls those things that BE NOT, AS THOUGH THEY WERE, CALLED US TO GODSELF ANYWAY! CAN SOMEBODY SAY ‘GLORRAAAAAA 2 THE LAMB OF GOD!‘
But now, we can be enlightened and transformed by The WORD OF HIS POWER to walk in The God Ordained Freedom and Authority as Heirs of The Kingdom of God, annointed and appointed to enjoy the ETERNAL benefits of being RECONCILED TO GOD thru The DEATH, BURIAL & RESURRECTED LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST!
In other words, we have been set free from the guilt, shame and penalty of sin to live every day trusting, depending and relying wholeheartedly in THE EFFICACIOUS BLOOD OF OUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, THAT WAS SHED ON THE CROSS AND SPRINKLED ON THE MERCY SEAT OF HEAVEN’S ETERNAL SANCTUARY as TOTAL PAYMENT FOR ALL OF OUR SINS…PERIOD!
Notwithstanding, it behooves us to never foolishly, purposely and consistently practice sin,BELITTLING AND WILLFULLY REJECTING THE PRECIOUS PASSION SO SELFLESSLY DISPLAYED ON OUR BEHALF THAT WE MIGHT BE CALLED THE SONS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD! (Ref. Romans 3:31) GOD FORBID!
Beloved, I am beseeched by The Holy Spirit , Who encourages you (and me) as much as it is possible, to endeavor to live our lives honoring and embracing THE ALL SUFFICIENCY OF HIS AMAZING GRACE and UNRELENTING MERCY, striving to live humbly before HIM in faithful obedience and gratitude for this undeserved FAVOR, seeking ultimately to meet Him in Peace and Confident that BECAUSE OF THE WORKS OF CHRIST, IT IS WELL WITH OUR SOUL!
DIDJAHEARDAT? REST ASSURED! HE WHO THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE…INDEED! I’M STILL TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL ACQUITTAL!
Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. 2 For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Psalm 117 NLT
Notice, the Psalmist is encouraging all nations, of the earth, not just certain peoples, to give praise to The Lord! TRUTHBTOLD, everything in the Earth shall one day recognize God as The Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of ALL Life. (Ref. Psalm 24:1)
Yet, while everything that has breath is admonished to give God Praise for WHAT He’s DONE, only those who have secured a personal intimate committed relationship with The ONLY True Source and Hope of Salvation, thru Godly Repentance and acceptance of The Sacrificial Atoning death of Jesus Christ, experience the unspeakable Joy and treasure of Pure Worship for WHO HE IS!
DIDJAKNO, The only thing comparable to GOD’S GREAT LOVE, IS HIS ENDURING FAITHFULNESS?
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8
YEP! OUR GOD IS UNDENIABLY, UNDEFIABLY EQUAL 2 NONE!
SELAH Daily Devotions 