November 21st

Good Morning Meadowbrooke,

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” – 1 John 3:1

Pause for a moment and consider the significance of 1 Jn 3:1. Jesus willingly endured the cross on our behalf, bearing the consequences that rightly belonged to us. At Calvary, He took upon Himself our sins, so that everyone who places their faith in His name can receive forgiveness. Scripture tells us that although we were once spiritually lifeless, we have been made alive in Christ, all because of God's overflowing mercy and immense love (see Gal 3:13–14; Eph 2:1–4). This is the reason believers across the globe find joy in God's Word: “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God...” (1 Pet 3:18). United by this truth, we lift our voices in praise together.

Behold the Man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Cry out among the scoffers

Why should I benefit from His reward?

I cannot comprehend the reason

But this I know with absolute certainty:

His wounds have paid the price for my freedom.

The grace that has been lavished out upon us is not cheap grace; it is grace that cost the Son of God His own life! We treasure such grace because it makes our forgiveness, redemption, ransom, and reconciliation by God possible; is this not the reason we run to passages like John 3:16? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  Or think of the sweetness of Romans 5:6-11 for a moment,

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom 5:6-11)

Even while we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son—let that truth sink in deeply. Christ willingly bore the punishment we deserved, suffering on the cross in our place so that we could be rescued from condemnation. Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. But God’s love didn’t end with simply pardoning sinners; He went even further! Not only does He forgive lost, hardened, sin-stained people through His Son, but He also welcomes them into His family and calls them His children.

This Sunday we will consider this very theme through the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday to celebrate what it truly means to be redeemed.

Grace,

Pastor Keith