Time for Grace – January 14, 2025

Time for Grace – January 14, 2025

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them. They testify about me!

Dear Lord Jesus,

In your standoff with the Jewish leaders, they were troubled by you for many reasons, but it seemed they were most troubled by your healing on the Sabbath. Their concern lay in outward appearances and keeping the law rather than living the law of love. They even criticized you for healing souls by declaring the forgiveness of sins.

The religious leaders searched the Scriptures, hoping to save themselves by effectively following the Old Testament laws. However, their faith was in the outward appearance of their actions without transforming their hearts. They rationalized that by adding man-made laws around your word, people would better adhere to your law. However, these additional laws burdened the people further, causing them to miss the essence of love. The religious leaders could not see how you could be the Messiah sent from God, prompting them to plot your death.

The world continues to miss the essence of love, attempting to legislate away sin and reject you. Laws are crafted to eliminate bias and the terms ending in “-ism,” yet they all overlook the fundamental issue—sin. We are all sinful, and you have provided us with the solution to the world’s core problem: faith in you. By placing our trust in you—your holy life and innocent death on the cross—you restore everyone who believes. Loving you transforms our hearts, leading believers to act out of love, honoring you above all else, and caring for our neighbors as we care for ourselves.

May there be a renewed desire among all people to know you; may we share the good news of your grace and mercy with everyone we encounter; let this change of heart occur for those close to us, so they, too, will know, believe, and trust in you and receive salvation and eternal life through faith in you. Amen.

Written through Pastor Roger Emmons

The world is a sinful place, and the only way to correct it is through love. But that love only comes through faith in the One who gave his life as a ransom for all so that those who believe in Jesus may have eternal life.