A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Wednesday,
September 5, 2018
"Not
Condemnation, But Celebration"
Message
summary: When we return to our
Father rather than condemnation there is
celebration!
Listen
to
our message on your audio player.
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son" (Luke 15:21). "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1,2). There
is no condemnation
Just a Father who's been waiting to put His arms around you Oh, the anticipation, the great celebration For you were lost but now He's found you There is only rejoicing and a tender kindness shown When the prodigal comes home Traveling through Lebanon County yesterday on our way to a chaplain visit we heard a song that touched our hearts (link to song below). It tells the story of the prodigal (lost) son, a parable from the Bible that illustrates the forgiving character of God. The entire story is recorded in Luke 15:11-32. We consider today those of you who have a prodigal in your life or any of you who might be living as a prodigal. When the lost son who had wasted his life finally came to his senses he returned to his Father reasoning that being a hired man back home would be better than perishing in a wasteland. He had rehearsed his speech in his head before heading home and once he arrived he put all his cards out on the table, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son" (Luke 15:21). Just consider the shame in those words, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son." In one sense the statement is correct. He had blown it big time; he was no longer worthy. But the father in the story, illustrating our heavenly Father, seemed oblivious to this petition. The text continues, "But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:22-24). Rather than condemnation there was celebration! The Apostle Paul in our second daily text tells us there is now "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". The word "condemnation" from the original Greek means "an adverse sentence." Because of Christ's death on the cross we are no longer objects of God's wrath, but we are His beloved children. The verdict for those who are in Christ Jesus is "No condemnation!" Could there be a sweeter sentencing for those who at one time were objects of God's wrath and certainly "no longer worthy"? Like the prodigal son when we come to God with a contrite heart He does not turn us away but instead delights to show mercy: "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). Once our sins are buried into the depths of the sea it is there that we need to envision a posting of "No Fishing" as a reminder; if God does not hold our sins against us we should not go fishing for troubling memories that place us under condemnation and guilt once again. Peter boldly proclaimed, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Due to the resurrection we have also been raised with Christ (Philippians 3:1) to newness of life. Hallelujah!!! Do you believe? Accept the forgiveness of sin that Christ freely offers; rejoice and live for Him today. No
condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine! Alive in Him my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily
prayer: Father,
You softly and tenderly call us back to
Yourself after we walk away from
Your truth and live in defiance of all
that we once held dear. You do not
shame us by scoldingly point Your
righteous finger in our face but instead
You embrace us and cast our sins into
the depths of the ocean, to be
remembered no more. If we are to
remember anything of our past, let it be
that which brings glory to You when we
share with others that which You have
forgiven. May the contrast of our former
lives not bring up condemnation which
You have freed us from, but celebration
in that there is no sin beyond Your
merciful pardon. To God be the glory
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Yesterday
was our first day making chaplain visits
since the heavy storm last Friday and we
sure heard some interesting stories.
Richard sent us this photo he had taken on
the entrance ramp to Rt 283, the busy 4
lane freeway that runs from Harrisburg to
Lancaster. It was flooded under the Rt 772
bridge and the car seen was stuck in the
water. Richard, a project manager at White
Oak Display, showed us the photo when we
visited him and then sent it over in an
email. I thanked him and he wittingly
replied, "My pleasure, Stephen - that
picture brings back a flood of memories."
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"When The
Prodigal Comes Home" Video Tribute Quartet (the song
that prompted today's message)
Thoughtful lyrics. In addition to the
chorus quoted above the verses are:
In the mud and
mire behind the fences
When you finally came to your senses You said, "Even the servants in my father's house Are better off than I am now" You didn't think he'd take you in Much less call you son again Instead you found a mercy so beautiful and wild That it looks beyond the foolishness to seek a wayward child Rehearsing words to beg him for forgiveness Then down the road you saw him in the distance As he ran to meet you face to face And wrapped you in his strong embrace The acceptance in his eyes Made you finally realize He will always love you, you will always be his son No matter where you've wandered, no matter what you've done And to every child of God Who's somehow lost their way Even now He's longing for you Can you hear Him say... (repeat chorus) "And Can It
Be" Video
Sovereign Grace Music (Second song
quoted today)
"How Can It
Be" Video Lauren
Daigle
"No Longer A
Slave" Video Voices of Lee
"Grace
Greater Than All Our Sin" Video
Calvary Church (the song that closed our
service this last Lord's Day)
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