Devotional Day 29

Scripture

Romans 5:6-11

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while 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! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Devotional

Imagine you are going to the movies with your friend, you want to treat them so you buy them a ticket and invite them to come along with you on Thursday night. But when you tell your friend about it they say ‘you know what, I’d love to come, but I’m just not able to’.

You might say, ‘Oh that’s unfortunate, why can’t you come?’.

Only to hear your friend say ‘I can’t afford to buy the ticket’.

Your joy would turn to confusion, when even upon explaining to them that you had already paid for their ticket - that they still didn’t want to come with you - because they can’t afford their own ticket.

It would be pretty absurd to reject such a sincere gesture of friendship wouldn’t it! And yet, many people are uncomfortable with receiving grace from God, especially if they’ve got a lot of pride.

I’m not sure if you’ve ever felt this way, but so many people, myself included often fall into the trap of avoiding God when we are not doing well spiritually. So often, because of our shame, we attempt to hide from God. We see this with our first parents - Adam and Eve, who hid from God in the garden of eden after they sinned.

The sad implication of pride is that we can often prolong seasons of disconnection from God - not wanting God to see our sin, instead choosing to take our time to ‘clean ourselves up a bit’ before we feel comfortable coming to him.

Unfortunately for so many - it’s our pride that stops us from engaging with God when we’re not doing well, because deep down we’re uncomfortable with grace. We are so used to earning things that we don’t know how to engage with God when we feel like we don’t deserve him.

The irony is - and we all know it - that whether you like it or not, you can’t actually hide from God! I love this scripture from Romans 5, because it’s such a good reminder to us of how pointless it is to avoid God. It’s as If the bible is saying ‘did you forget when Jesus died for you?’.

He didn’t die for you when you were at your best, he didn’t even die for you when you were just having an off day - he died for you when you were still powerless.

Paul said it this way to the church in Ephesus:

Ephesians 2:5

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Jesus died for you when you were dead and powerless - that’s when he saved you, that’s when he gave everything for you. This is part of what makes the Lord so amazing! It’s pretty rare someone would give their life for a good person, maybe if there was some lovely mother walking her children across the street in the path of a semi-truck, maybe someone would consider giving their life to save her. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When we were at our worst, rebelling against God, dead to him, he gave his life to save us. Wow.

How crazy to think that we still avoid God when we’re not doing well. He’s seen it all! He made you! He’s omniscient! He died for you at your absolute worst - he’s proven there’s no need to hide, that he can handle your mess and love you in the midst of it.

Don’t avoid the Lord today if you’re not doing well. Remember these scriptures when you feel like avoiding God. He paid for your sin so that he could have a relationship with you - don’t let it get in the way anymore, come to Jesus - repent, and enjoy him!

The truth is that we never have - and never will be - able to earn God’s love, it’s all grace and always will be!

Prayer

Lord thank you that you are so gracious and merciful towards me, I thank you that you aren’t like us in so many ways. You’re forgiving, kind, compassionate and endlessly loving. Thank You for loving me at my worst, for dying for me when I didn’t even know you. Help me to remember these truths when I need them Lord. I joyfully come into your presence today, no holding back - my heart fully open to you.