Morning, March 28
<< Morning, March 28 >>
LORD, if you kept a record of our sins,
        who, O Lord, could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness,
        that we might learn to fear you.
Insight
Keeping a record of sins (or holding a grudge) is like building a wall between you and another person, and it is nearly impossible to talk openly while the wall is there. God doesn't keep a record of our sins; when he forgives, he forgives completely, tearing down any wall between us and him. Therefore, we fear (revere) God, yet we can talk to him about anything.
Challenge
When you pray, realize that God is holding nothing against you. His lines of communication are completely open.
Ephesians 3:19  The love of Christ which passeth knowledge.

The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fulness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passeth all human comprehension. Where shall language be found which shall describe his matchless, his unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow but skimmeth the water, and diveth not into its depths, so all descriptive words but touch the surface, while depths immeasurable lie beneath. Well might the poet say,

"O love, thou fathomless abyss!"

for this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand his previous glory in its height of majesty, and his incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When he was enthroned in the highest heavens he was very God of very God; by him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: he reigned supreme above all his creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony--to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that "passeth knowledge." O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power.


Joshua 1:18  "Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."

Psalm 27:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

Isaiah 40:29-31  He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. • Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, • Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Psalm 73:26  My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Psalm 118:6  The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

Psalm 44:5  Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.

Romans 8:37  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

1 Chronicles 22:16  "Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may the LORD be with you."

New American Standard Bible Copyright ? 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

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