July 8, 2006
Psalms 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Sometimes we get so sidetracked from the main issues. We assume that God does not answer some of our prayers so we doubt His love for us. We often approach our relationship with Him like a job application. We examine the pros and cons of the contract; we evaluate the benefits, and are ready to sue if things don’t go according to our expectations. Some of us also act like the ungrateful children of this generation. They have parents who are able to provide them with basic food, shelter, clothing and education, but they are not happy unless they have the trendy latest fads and fashion in clothing, styles and gadgets. One day we will realize that even if Jesus didn’t give us anything else, like our parents, he gave us the most important things: life and protection.
From the moment of conception, human beings exist in the shadow of physical death, at the mercy of the carrying mother. Later, they are born so helpless that it seems the odds are against them. Good parents adopt a lifestyle that provides shelter and protection for the new life and for the child that is to come. They live with constant watchful care and concern for their child, and this continues long into the child’s adulthood.
Similarly, since the original sin (Gen 3) our spiritual life is doomed to spiritual death (Rom 6:23), to live a life separated from God, and spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15.) God, our heavenly Father, watches over us and protects and shelters us. He has provided His Son Jesus-Christ to willingly and mercifully pay the “wages of sin” (Rom 6:23). We are now free from death, the condemnation of sin, and able to enjoy life in God’s presence while on earth, and after life, in God’s heavenly city, new Jerusalem, for ever.
This is God’s main gift to us, and even if He would give us nothing else, this is the best deal ever offered this side of the universe. Oh, that we would realize the value of this sacrifice conceived in the depth of the heart of the love of God for us! Let us not whine anymore but be thankful for this crown of mercy that redeems us from inevitable death.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
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