Transformed!

 

     Small irritations take control. A bitter root takes hold and grows in our hearts. Satan’s strongholds in our life appear to be taking over. The world is suddenly or gradually not so sunny and warm. A cool breeze takes hold of our hearts. Someone hurt us. That person doesn’t understand. What is wrong with me? How can I go on without them? It is easy to blame others or to blame our past or our circumstances and travel to a pit of despair.

     It is convenient to look at others through the lens of our own lives. Jesus always meets us right where we are. He meets each person’s needs in a unique and glorious way. He tugs at our heartstrings and makes us realize we no longer need to be right. We just need to be loved. When life becomes too difficult, we may realize we are tired of doing it on our own. We need God. We need a Savior.

     That hole in our hearts, the questions about life and death, the search for answers, for truth, can be found in one man. The man who was also fully God. Jesus came in sacrifice and humility. He came to suffer greatly. He came to experience the humanness of life on earth and to show us the way to the glory of eternal life. He came to save you and me.

     The one and only perfect man took it all.  He took all of our pain and offers us complete forgiveness and righteousness. His righteousness. God allowed Him to become one of us and suffer as if He had committed every one of our sins and in return offers us the holy righteousness of Christ. Wow!

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God-that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

     You are redeemed. Jesus traded places with you and took it all. You are now the righteousness of Christ, forever forgiven, sins washed clean as snow, forever loved, forever alive with Him.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Father,

Jesus changed everything for us, giving us new life. We praise You for giving us Your Son. Through the shedding of His perfect blood our sins are as white as snow, we are forgiven as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) There are no words perfect enough to thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen