As we are deep into the NBA Playoffs and the Conference Semifinals, coaches often look to see what they have in their players. If you are the “run and gun” type like the Phoenix Suns, you are looking for high energy players who can run up and down the floor in less than seven seconds to score relentlessly. If you are the gritty veteran type like the San Antonio Spurs, you are looking for players who have a good basketball IQ and know how to draw fouls. If you are the championship contender type like the Lakers or the Cavaliers, you are looking for those players who can put you over the top in various crucial game situations. If these coaches can find these types of players within their teams, then look out! The Playoffs will be even greater than what they have been thus far. If we switch this thing spiritually, do we know what we have in Him? Do we know what we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Well today, the Apostle Paul wants you to know what kind of Savior you have in Jesus.
He begins today’s text by saying, “In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood”. It amazes me how we as human beings hold things over people from their past. We hold over people’s heads that they were whoremongers. We hold over their heads that they were backbiters. We hold over their heads that they were snitches. We hold over their heads that they hurt our feelings. Aren’t you glad that Jesus holds NOTHING against you? Aren’t you glad to know that in Jesus, you have redemption, deliverance, and salvation through His blood? Aren’t you glad that He picked you up, turn you around, and placed your feet on solid ground? Aren’t you glad that you are better than what you used to be because of Jesus? Aren’t you glad that He pulled you away from your desert and placed you in an oasis where His blessings flow? Aren’t you glad to know that because He lives, you and me can face tomorrow?
Not only do we have redemption through His blood, but we also have in Jesus “the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses)”. Now that right there ought to make you tell Him Thank You! In the Old Testament days, blood was used for the remission of sins. Through Jesus’ blood, we have forgiveness or remission for our offenses! 1 John discusses how Jesus was the propitiation for our sins. Because of this, we have forgiveness for our hang-ups! We have forgiveness for our disappointments! We have forgiveness for our past mistakes! Lamentations lets you know that we receive new mercies every day and it’s in Jesus that these mercies are given and it’s in Jesus that our slate is wipe clean of the sins of yesterday! Aren’t you glad that He has cleaned your slate? Aren’t you glad that He does not care about your past ways, but concerned about your present and future?
Paul concludes this text by saying that these things were “in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor”. Isn’t that a mouthful right there, ladies and gentlemen? Philippians 4:19 makes mention that He will supply all of your needs according to His riches in Glory. What this part of scripture says to me that in Him, we have redemption through His blood, remission of our sins because it was a part of the will of God and it was the need that had to be supplied. Not only did He supply a need, He extended to us His gracious (unmerited) favor! Brothers and sisters, as you live life and live it more abundantly, every day that you live, you ought to know what you have in Jesus! You ought to know that He has redeemed you! You ought to know that He has saved you through His blood! You ought to know that He has forgiven you for your offenses! These things occurred because it was in His will! Once Adam messed up in the Garden, God had to set the table for Jesus to come! He realized that many of the Old Testament saints could not get the job done! Because of this, Jesus, off His throne from Heaven, saw fit, and made it His business to show you and me what we do have in Him! He did it in accordance to the riches and His generosity of gracious favor! Aren’t you glad about God’s favor on today? If so, you ought to let Him know in your own special way!
In closing, I am thankful today for knowing what I have in Jesus. Because of that, it makes me want to do better and love the way He encourages me to love. I may not cross every t and dot every I, but I know that there’s redemption and remission and it was in accordance with His riches! Just meditate on what Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and let it minister to you. Let it let you know that no matter what goes on in life, Jesus has forgave you and redeemed you and there’s no devil in hell that can stop you!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment