Who Became to Us…….

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Who Became to Us…….

We naturally like to show others  our accomplishments,  and say,  “I did this  all by myself.      Boy,  talk about a lot of work!”      Even if we’re referring to  some earthly accomplishment,  we can’t rightfully say that.      If God does not allow  certain things  and talents  to exist in our lives,  we can’t accomplish anything  on our own.      So,  in every circumstance,  all the thanks and glory  really belongs  to God alone.      God gives us  every single little blessing  we have — even our breath.

Some people  get rather puffed up  about their righteousness.      They like to imagine  that God Almighty  is quite pleased  with how they keep  all the commandments,  and they point to  the fruits  of all their efforts.      But,  truth be said,  we are all sinners,  who don’t deserve  any commendations.

Our efforts  don’t buy us  a place  before our Creator and Redeemer.      If it weren’t for God  doing all things  for us,  we wouldn’t have anything.      The Lord gives  to the good  and the evil  all the blessings  that they have.      None of us  can even boast  about how we came to Christ  and became a child of God.      1 Corinthians 1:30-31  tells us,

By His doing  you are  in Christ Jesus,  who became to us  wisdom from God,  and righteousness  and sanctification,  and redemption,  that,  just as it is written,  “Let him who boasts,  boast in the Lord.”

From this  we realize  that it is only by God’s  “doing“  that anyone  can come to faith  in Christ Jesus.      By God’s  “doing“  we are enabled  to see  how Christ Jesus is  the  “wisdom from God“,  because God knows  we are totally incapable  of saving ourselves,  so God’s wisdom  planned  to have Jesus  suffer and die  to pay the penalty  we deserve.      God’s wisdom  found it acceptable  in the light of holiness,  justice,  mercy,  love,  and righteousness  to have Jesus  live a perfect life  in our stead.

Then we see  that  “by His doing“  Christ Jesus  becomes to us  “righteousness and sanctification, and redemption“.      Only Jesus  can be our true  “righteousness“.      We should never imagine  that our so-called righteousness  is worth anything  before God’s holiness.      If we don’t accept  the gift of Christ’s righteousness,  we have nothing  to boast about.

The same goes  for our  “sanctification“.      Sanctification means  being made holy.      It is only  “by His doing“  that we are made holy.      We cannot  make ourselves holy  by our own efforts.      God alone  can change our lives  and set us apart  from the world,  so that we can be  truly used  to His glory.

And,  it is only  “by His doing“  that we have redemption.      To redeem something  is to buy back  something.      We are God’s creation,  we belong to Him;  but we all became  enslaved to sin — and are hauled off  far away from God.      In Christ,  God  bought us back.      We have no way  to pay for our way  out of our slavery  to sin,  because  we can never come up with  the price  for our souls.

If we’re going to brag about anything,  we should brag about  God Almighty.      He alone  has the wisdom  to do all things  in a true holiness  and pure love.      God alone  has the power  to make us  truly righteous,  sanctified,  and fully redeemed.      We are fully paid for,  and should not dare  to imagine  Christ’s blood  was not enough.

Knowing  we are so beloved,  in spite of  our helplessness,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  thank You  for loving us  so greatly  in Christ Jesus.      You  “became to us“  all that we need  for eternal life.      Now we truly belong to You.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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