“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:9-11 (NIV)
Reconciliation to God. What a precious compensation! Nothing could be more desirable. Think about it. He graciously imputes his righteousness upon us, covering our sin with his blood. Now the miseries and afflictions of this life are no longer tokens of the curse, but simply trials of our enduring faith.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)
Dear Father, thank you for your reconciling grace and mercy. Protect us and deliver us from the temptations of this world, which so easily entices us. Renew us with an enduring faith. Empower us with an humble, obedient spirit. I pray this in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his reconciling grace and fix our eyes on his eternal promise,