DEVOTIONAL
The grace of God is the very soul of the gospel. It is woven in the fabric of God’s character and without it man would be forever lost. It is God’s abounding grace that beats with every heartbeat of a believer that gives him hope to see another day. Praise be to God for His reigning grace in the life of all Whom He calls, for as the scriptures tell us, “Where sin increased, His grace abounded all the more.” This grace not only abounds and is triumphant over sin, but it reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. For it was through Christ alone that we are able to stand anchored in grace and through His precious blood that we have salvation.
In Christ, every child is commanded to go to war with sin that desires to have them. It is written, “Do not let sin reign in their mortal body as if you are to obey its lust, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness.” But unfortunately, there are still moments of sheer failure. This is not an attempt to justify sin, for those who are in Christ know the anguish of the soul when the fiery arrows of the evil one penetrates their breastplate of righteousness. In brokenness they cry as David, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight.”
However, in these moments of failure the Holy Spirit, through grace, moves the heart to look to the cross where great drops of blood fell from Jesus, crying, “Look unto the cross where your sins were atoned for! Look I say! Do not linger any longer, for in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace!” Then the heart inflamed with passion casts its gaze to that cross and sings aloud, “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.” Come Christian, bask in God’s unmerited favor. Come sinner, His blood is for you, Come, O guilty ones, and receive His mercy. Put out the hand of faith and grasp your portion. Trust Jesus with your souls, and He will save you. May the grace of God make it so.