ICS Daily Devotions
The Messiah, the Anointed
Romans 5:1 (AMP) Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
We have been reconciled with God and have a right standing with Him because of Christ’s completed work of atonement on our behalf. There is tremendous joy in heaven over this reconciliation. God desires this reconciliation and we should be rejoicing over it as well. Since Jesus has dealt with the sin issue once and for all, we have eternal peace with God. A new and everlasting covenant has been established for us through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrew 13:20-21 (NKJV) Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the EVERLASTING COVENANT [emphasis added], make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
We are also confident that God will face all of life’s adversity, tribulation and affliction with us as our covenant partner. We see His faithfulness clearly when David faced Goliath in battle. We each have our own Goliaths in life, but we can take heart that we serve the same God who honored His covenant with David. A covenant relationship is the highest form of expression of devotion and love to another person, it is a binding commitment to love and never to forsake one’s covenant partner, even in the face of adversity. We are able to anchor our faith in this covenant relationship with God since we have been given the right to become the children of the living God (John 1:12).
The shed blood of Jesus Christ redeemed our relationship with God so that we can live for Him. We are Christ’s body on earth and it is God’s desire that we live out His will, just as Jesus came to do the Father’s will. God will never leave nor forsake us since He has established an everlasting covenant with us. (Rom 8).
Sermon Series: Resilience
