Who Could Stand?

 Ezra 9:13 (NIV)  What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved…

Ezra 9:6 (NIV)  …our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.

            As we approach Easter week, we are humbled by the precious gift of salvation we have because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As in Ezra’s day, we are in the mess we are in because of our own sinfulness, pride, and rebellion. No one else did this to us. We did this to ourselves. Perhaps I am referring to us “as a nation,” but also to us as individuals—myself included. Yet there is hope; there is always hope.

Psalm 130:3-4 (NIV)  If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Psalm 103:8-12 (NIV)  The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

            How is this possible?

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)  Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 (NIV)  If you declare with your mouth “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. … for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            How can we possible stand under the weight of our guilt and shame? Yet in your mercy you provided salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of your only begotten Son. Thank you for your mercy and your grace. Thank you for the gift of salvation.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Who Could Stand? appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com