Christ Offered Himself

Hebrews 9 "Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins." 9:14 (NLT) Father God, There is nothing I can do, or not do, to be acceptable in Your sight. My good behavior will never cover my sinfulness. To think that I would have to do something of value to have worth in Your eyes would not only put me in bondage to daily striving to perform perfectly, but it would annul Christ's perfect gift offered for me. By accepting His payment on my behalf, He set me free to seek You in open fellowship. Before my new birth I lived in confusion, constant fear and isolation. I believed my acceptance was based on perfect obedience. "I" had to perform like an actor and say and do everything according to my understanding of Your truth. Because I continuously failed, I lived life in constant fear, guilt and shame; never feeling worthy of love. I was not living, I was striving and surviving. Everyday my heart cried out, "What can I do today to prove my love?" or "How can I rip out the guilty thoughts that torture my soul?" When I attempted to prove my love it set me up for failure. You did not want me to prove it, for it is not possible. You were waiting patiently for me to realize I could never measure up. I simply needed to be like a little child, reach out and accept the fact Christ lived it for me, and receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would then teach me what the scriptures mean personally, opening my spiritual senses to comprehend. I would then experience harmony and peace like I'd never known. It is so difficult to accept the gifts of others. We are so programmed to think we must earn love. We honestly question, "Why would anyone simply give?" Because of love! Love is the foundational truth of life. Your unconditional love breaks down man's defenses and once we know its freedom and power it draws us hungrily to experience it over and over again. It fills all the empty, hurting places of the soul and makes us new every morning! Thank You for daily coming into my being and seeping into every crack and crevice with Your loving touch of mercy and grace. I worship You! "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:8-10

Kathy Watson From Good News Tucson Magazine - August 2016