The Faith I Live By: Peace with God is available
Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Audio Link: http://bit.ly/ThoughtsinWorship
“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 of the glory of God.“
Friend or foe? Enemy of ally? Consort or opponent? Which of the two do you want God to be to you? We can be friends with the God of the universe, if we choose to be friendly.
An Enemy of God
The sin problem has created a strange situation on Earth. God of love, who desires nothing more than for us to be saved, find Himself at odds with humanity. The very people He risked everything to save continually fail to make peace with Him. See I know what you’re thinking: “but David, we can’t make peace with God. We are powerless to do that.” I am so glad you brought that up!
The Process of Reconciliation
It is true, we cannot seek peace with God on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to activate our repentant search for peace. We need Him to teach us to love the law of God. It is this love for God’s law and His Word that creates a peaceful relationship between us and God. When the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives we become aware of our need for transformation, and then the Holy Spirit performs that transformation Himself.
A Friend of God
Jesus can be our friend, ally, and consort. We can make peace with the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of the universe. All we have to do is allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, seek forgiveness, and ask for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He will empower us both to will and to do His good pleasure.
By God’s grace, this is the faith I live by. I pray the same for you, in Jesus’ name.
