Time for Grace-June 7, 2024

Time for Grace-June 7, 2024

Isaiah 44:22

I am blowing away your rebellious deeds like a cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to me because I am redeeming you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

How can something so serious just be blown away? Those things we think, say, and do have dire consequences; they condemn and send us away from you. Our consciences remind us of all our inadequacies and then pile on sin, guilt, and shame from our rebellious activities; they often feel like a massive weight on our shoulders. When it becomes too heavy, we try to set it down and avoid it, but it continues to linger. Sometimes, we pursue worldly things to overcome our actions, increasing our guilt instead of going to you.

We cannot get rid of any of it on our own. However, you tell us how you have blown it away like a cloud. Jesus, your holy, perfect Son, came to be part of your created world and has removed our iniquities; he nailed them to the cross with himself. Jesus, your holy, perfect Son, came here in perfection; he willingly went to the cross and suffered in our place for all our iniquities so that he would remove all our sins; he blew them away like a cloud. All this he did to pay our debt and redeem us from the condemnation that was upon us. Jesus did your will to restore us to you.

You deliver to us the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life through faith. Knowing, believing, and trusting that Jesus died for all our sins delivers these gifts to each believer. Faith comes to each person by hearing Your Word. Your Holy Spirit uses Your Word to begin faith in each person. Thank you for your love, grace, and mercy; thank you for our salvation.

Let our reaction to your removal of our rebellious acts be to share this good news of your love and forgiveness with those around us who don’t know or trust you and struggle with their past. Let your word work faith in them so they will have salvation, knowing you have redeemed them. Amen.

Written through Pastor Roger Emmons

Jesus has absolved all your sins through His suffering and death on the cross; all your sins are forgiven. Therefore, because of God’s love for you, forgive others, and remember to forgive yourself because God has already forgiven you.