Love Paid the Price for Mercy - Encouragement Café - April 13, 2017

Love Paid The Price For Mercy
By Kathy Sweeny
Thursday, April 13, 2017

… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 NIV

We are people of justice when it comes to others.  When we see others doing great wrong, we want to see them get “what they deserve”.  But what about us?  When it is us who have done wrong, we seek mercy. 

Fortunately, God loves ALL His children.  He loves them ALL so much that He sent His one and only Son to teach us about His love.  Jesus Christ loved us so much that He went willingly to the cross to suffer our punishment. 

The fact is that we are all on death row for disobeying God’s commands.  We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and we are all awaiting our sentence.

BUT… for those of us who have accepted God’s gracious gift of salvation, there is no condemnation.  When God looks on us, He sees the blood of His Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross to pay for our sins. 

We are FREE.  Free to go and not to suffer.  Free from sin and not bound to it like a slave.  Free to do the Will of God; and empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit.

And what about others?  When others wrong us or we see those we love not living God’s way according to His laws, why are so we quick to condemn them? 

We want them to suffer for their wrongs and get “what they deserve”.  Like Jonah, we deliver the message of repentance with a secret hope that God will teach them a lesson. 

But God is a gracious and compassionate God.  He desires that everyone should come to Him, believe in Him and be saved from the slavery of sin.  If God wants that, shouldn’t we too?  ESPECIALLY for our loved ones?

I know how hard it is to let go of the pain that someone else has caused you.  I know because I, myself once held onto to pain which others had inflicted on me. 

But I also know that wonderful feeling of freedom when we release that pain and give it to God and forgive the ones who have wronged us.  Forgiveness is freeing. 

We cannot do this in our own strength; we can only do it by the Grace of God.

Cry out to Him.  Run and hide in the shadow of His wings and ask Him to give you the strength you need to lay your hurts and angers at the foot of His cross. 

Ask Him to help you forgive those who have hurt you most.  And then live in the freedom of forgiveness, free from condemnation and the power of sin.

Heavenly Father, thank YOU.  Thank You for sending Your Son to earth to teach me about Your love.  Thank You for loving me so completely that I am now able to love others with Your love which overflows from my heart.  Thank You for freeing me from the bondage of sin and unforgiveness.  I pray that You would touch the hearts of those reading this devotion, and give them the courage they need to let go, forgive and then live in the freedom which You offer.  I love You God, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

© 2017 by Kathy Sweeny. All rights reserved.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  Pull up a chair… He’s been waiting for you.

Need a refill?  Please join us at the Encouragement Café with Luann and Friends. 

The conversation at the Café is always hot and fresh.  We invite you to listen inas we gather around the table to discuss everyday life.

Comfort food for your soul is always on our menu, and friends are always close enough to hug.  We invite you to join us daily, as our writer’s share how the Lord continues to transform them into His glorious image.

Still craving more…Join us as we grow together in grace and truth through our online bible study.       

Stop by Encouragement Café and listen as the girls share life. Find podcasts, videos, Bible studies, prayer, resources and daily helpings of hope, laughter and friendship around our table. We've saved a seat just for you!