His Love Has Redeemed Us.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

His Love Has Redeemed Us

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The greatest of all aspects of the Christian life is love. Love is to be at the foundation of all we do, all we are, and all we hold on to. If we focus on love and allow the Holy Spirit to strip everything else away, what will be left is a life of blessed simplicity rooted in face-to-face relationship with our heavenly Father. As we spend time this week looking at the simplicity of love, I pray that all the weighty, frivolous things of the world that rob you of an abundant life fall away in light of the glorious goodness of God’s unconditional and wholly available love for you.

Scripture:“For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.” Psalm 130:7

Devotional:           

The eternal redemption afforded to us by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus is a wonderful, life-giving demonstration of God’s unconditional, unchanging love. I’ve gone through much of my life feeling condemned. I look at my thoughts, actions, reactions, and failures and apply my condemning perspective to my perception of my heavenly Father. But in reality, he has so faithfully demonstrated his overwhelming love to me through the securing of my redemption. In reality, he truly loves me just as I am even with all my failures and faults.

Colossians 1:19-22 says,

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

God sees you and me as “holy and blameless.” Through his love we have been totally redeemed: set right before the God whose perspectives and beliefs are true above all else. When he says we are redeemed, that truth is now meant to be at the foundation of all we think, believe, and do.

Psalm 130:7 says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.” You and I are redeemed apart from anything we do. We are made holy apart from any inherent ability or worthiness we possess. God’s passionate desire for restored relationship with us caused him to secure what you and I could never attain on our own: the eternal redemption of all who believe in Jesus Christ.

So what does it mean for you to be redeemed? What effect does redemption have on your day today? 1 Peter 1:14-15 says, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” Live your life today in light of the redemption secured for you by Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work and help you live differently today than you did yesterday. Your past failures and weaknesses do not define you. Your present misconceptions and sins can be forgiven, healed, and transformed this instant. Jesus made a clear path for you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). All that is required of you is to believe, trust, open your heart to God, and live today in the constant communion God desires with you. May your day today be filled with the life-giving transformation and freedom that comes from living in light of your present redemption.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the redemption secured for you by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7

“O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.” Psalm 130:7

“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12

2. Where have sins, lies, past failures, or wounds been causing you to live apart from your redemption? Where has your life looked more like the world and less like heaven? Confess those sins and your need of God’s forgiveness, transformation, and presence.

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19-20

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

3. Receive God’s forgiveness. Spend time opening your heart and receiving his presence.

“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” Psalm 130:3-4

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Our heavenly Father is wholly patient with us as we learn to live out this incredible gift of redemption. He is perfectly kind and forgiving when we come to him and confess our sin. And he has a perfect plan every day for our transformation, healing, and freedom if we will simply make space in our lives to spend time with him and receive all he has to give. May we as the body of Christ learn what it is to live in light of the glorious inheritance of redemption, freedom, and abundant life secured for us by the precious blood of Jesus.

Extended Reading: 1 Peter 1

Meeting Jesus..Scott Patty

 Meeting Jesus

By Scott Patty

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” - John 1:37-39

Jesus came to be met.

So many people don’t realize this. To them, Jesus is a figure in history, long dead and irrelevant, or the inspiration for discontent cultural revolutionaries, or the leader of morally uptight Americans. But a person to be met and known?

In the opening chapter of John’s Gospel, we learn of the coming of Jesus. Grand statements about him are made in this chapter. The Word was in the beginning. The Word was with God from eternity. The Word was God. Jesus is this Word, which became a man and lived among us. Jesus is God and man in one person.

John 1 goes on to tell us that Jesus met people, and people actually met him. It tells us that we, too, can meet him.

How can we meet a man who lived two thousand years ago? Jesus is alive and he relates to us by his Spirit. He has given us information about himself in the Bible. He still speaks to us through the Bible. He gave us minds that can think, desires that lead to decisions, and bodies that can be used for service. Put all of this together, and we see how we can meet Jesus.

Meeting Jesus starts when he, by his Spirit, speaks to us from his Word. We then understand the words about Jesus, believe in him, decide to follow him, and make it our mission to serve him. Meeting Jesus happens because Jesus introduces himself to us, and we respond to him in faith.

Our lives should be saturated with this one, overarching goal: to meet Jesus. He has already introduced himself to you in his Word. I hope you will continue to meet him there.

A Prayer for Family..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Family

By Emma Danzey

1 Timothy 5:8 says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

God has entrusted each one of us with different family members. Whether biologically or through adoption, the Lord has strategically placed each one of us where we are for a reason. This calling in 1 Timothy 5:8 is to be taken seriously. In Chapter 5, Timothy is discussing the importance of caring for the widows, elders, and servants. In the midst of his instructions, he finds it valuable to pause and share that those who do not take care of their relatives, especially those in their home have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers. Why would God speak so harshly about this?

Think about the brokenness in homes and the poor effects on the children. Ponder the suffering elderly relative who no one checks on or cares for. Remember the priorities that the Lord has placed on serving Him first, then spouses, then children, etc. There is a clear direction from God that we can do all the “ministry” in the world, but if we neglect to minister to our own family, the other is in vain. We see an example of this in 1 Timothy 3, when the Lord addresses the qualifications for an elder in the church. Managing his household is one of the requirements. Today, we are going to pray over our families, knowing that God has given specific ministries to us in being part of their lives.

Let's Pray:

Our Father,
Thank you so much for intentionally placing me within the family that I am in. Even though every family comes with challenges, You have entrusted these loved ones to me. I pray that You would help me to love them like You. Guide me in Your wisdom how to best prioritize them and their spiritual care. Help me to pray for them daily, reach out to them, and love them in the season that they are in.

It is not always easy for me to love those closest to me because I experience their sin so often, and I see their worst days. Would You give me the strength to be a light to them? Please help me to be strong in You to love them well. God, would you bless me with extra compassion and gentleness as I walk through life with family? Help me to be a true minister of Your love to them even when they do not deserve it.

Lord, some families are unhealthy, I pray for any boundaries that need to be set out of protection and love to be made. You call us to love but not to endanger ourselves. Give wisdom to those who have been greatly abused or hurt by their family members. Help them not to walk in shame but to walk in Your victory. Give them wisdom on how to love well with healthy boundaries. For those who have experienced broken families, mend what is shattered. Heal the hurts, give them grace, show them Your great mercy.

I pray for spouses who need to reset their priorities. Help me and others to know how to best put You first and then our spouses second. Help us to refine and reveal a greater depth of who You are to them. I pray for parents to know how to love and protect their children well. Give us wisdom on how to disciple them. Help us to share the gospel daily through our words and actions. Lead us as we lead them. Help us to walk in humility when we make mistakes.

I pray for those with aging relatives. Help us to love them well, reach out to them often, and show great care for them. Give us the joy to listen and learn from their many years. Guide us to show honor and value to them. Lead us in the best ways of caring for their daily needs.

Lord, help us not to be hypocrites but to live out this truth. Help us to value our families well and to show Your love to them in the ways that You call us to. Unite us in You. Amen.

How Awesome is this place..Rev. Kyle Norman

 How Awesome is this place

By Rev. Kyle Norman

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17)

Sometimes the most profound experiences of God’s presence occur within the ordinary places of over lives. God comes amid the regular and routine, catching us unawares. This is no truer than in the story of Jacob. One of the high points of his life with God is when he dreams of a ladder upon which the angels of God ascend and descend. Rising from his dream Jacob exults the presence of the Lord saying, “Surely the Lord is in this place!” He dedicates the spot to the Lord, and calls the place Bethel, meaning “The House of God”. Bethel becomes a recurring place of divine encounter throughout the Scripture.

Did Jacob simply happen to lie down in a thin place, a place where heaven and earth touch? Was his dream nothing more than blessed happenstance, a byproduct of resting near the stairway of the heavens? If we read the scripture this way, then we must assume that Jacob has the dream simply because he happened to lie down in the correct spot. The implication of this is clear; if we wish to have a similar occurrence, we must make our way to the appropriate location. God will come to us if we to rest in the correct place. 

But what does this mean? Does God remain hidden behind secret doors and heavenly staircases? Does an encounter with God simply boil down to being in the right place at the right time – even if it’s by accident? 

The account of Jacob’s dream testifies to the exact opposite. Jacob does nothing to bring about this dream, he is but a passive recipient. At the time of this encounter, Jacob had just swindled his brother out of his rightful blessing. What is more, the divine blessing which Jacob stole did not lead to immediate satisfaction. Instead, Jacob must contend with the murderous intent of his brother. When Jacob lies down that evening, he is not desiring divine communication; he is running for his life. Jacob lies down to rest in a very ordinary and routine way.

Similarly, Scripture goes out of its way to describe the place of Jacob’s resting as “a certain place” (Genesis 28:11). In fact, scripture records that the reason why Jacob lies in that place is because the sun had set. The place of Jacob’s dream is a random location; it is ordinary and nondescript. If Jacob had run more quickly or started his journey hours earlier, he would have rested in a place far from that location. 

But the dream would have still happened because, in the end, the dream was not about where Jacob laid his head; it was about the presence of God. The dream testified to God’s gracious love toward Jacob, a love that is expressed despite his duplicity and deception. While we often title the dream “Jacob’s ladder,” the point of the dream isn’t about the ladder at all. Even the angels slip into the background when Jacob awakes. Instead, he rises with the knowledge that God is with him. The one who made him also sustains him. Surely the Lord is in this place. Surely this is the house of the Lord. 

Intersecting faith and life:
The Lord’s house is the place where the Lord lovingly dwells, and that is around us and within us. Jesus promises to reside within the heart of those committed to him. “Those who love me will keep my word,” Jesus says, “and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). Like Jacob, the one who created us also sustains us. There is no place in our lives where we are outside God’s gracious presence. This means that each evening, regardless of where we place our heads, we rest within the presence of God. 

Hear these comfortable words: Surely, the Lord is in this place. Every moment of your life, you are surrounded by the gracious presence of the Lord. When you retire for the evening, you rest your body and soul in the protective arms of Jesus. And when you rise, you waken to a day that will be lived in the context of his grace and mercy. You may not experience divine dreams such as Jacob did, but the reality of God’s presence is assured just the same. This is an awesome place. You stand at the gate of heaven.

For further reading:

• Genesis 27
• Genesis 28
• Hebrews 12:22-29
• John 14:23