Devotion 11/23, I Am Alive Because He Lives!

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:18

What a wonderful verse! Our precious Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins “once for all”, His blood shed on the cross is totally sufficient to pay my sin debt to God. When Jesus died He settled the sin question, the work of redeeming us to God was completed. If you look back at the Old Testament they had to keep sacrificing animals to cover their sin before God repeatedly. But Christ is the perfect sacrifice for sin before our holy and righteous God, no other sacrifice is needed or able to cover our sin.

Why does the blood of Christ cleanse our sin? Because He is righteous, “the righteous for the unrighteous”, (Isaiah 53:6b) “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity (sin) of us all.”
Christ is God’s one and only Son and therefore sinless (1Peter 2:22) “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
Yes indeed the righteous for the completely unrighteous. We deserved death and separation from God, but God is love and He wanted to reconcile us to Himself through His righteous One. He wants an ongoing relationship with us, a personal relationship. Yet some people throw it right back in His face by rejecting Christ and therefore rejecting God Himself! I choose Christ!

I know the appearance and feel of death’s finality and our human frailty. But Christ’s death is that great reminder that death is a matter of perspective and faith. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus is the “only” way for my salvation. I believe Christ is alive! Because Jesus lives, so will we!

Almighty God, thank you for the gifts of your grace, Spirit, forgiveness and life. Most of all, thanks for the gift of your Son, who brought life and immortality to life in me through your salvation. While I have no great desire to die, I know I can look through death to you and your victory in me through Jesus. Please give me the courage to live for you every day until that glorious day you take me home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I am alive because he lives! Father God, I pray that my life is a reflection to all that may cross my path, that “I am alive because He lives”! That Christ is alive in my heart and soul, let His light shine through me in everything I say and do today and all my tomorrows. All praise and glory are Yours, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.