Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

2 Corinthians 5:17-21
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ... God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them ... God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus' identification with us is complete. He comes to our world, takes on our shape, covers himself with our sins and ... dies.

But that's just the beginning. Has God really opened the door for me to identify with Him? That seems too good to be true. In Jesus we "become the righteousness of God." In Jesus we are newly created. There is no "old" in me anymore. That I still feel old, that I still sin, that I question God's existence or motives or veracity, and of course that my body dessicates and dies-dies-dies ... none of these holdovers from the Fall break the bond that Jesus has made with me. I can do nothing to break that bond.

Why would I want to? I wish there was no answer to that silly question. But my ego seems to rise up daily like the sun, predictable and majestic. Well, maybe not so majestic. I place my own ideas of what's best for me on a prayer-platter and present them to God as if they were delectable tidbits he could not refuse.

Such foolishness on my part seems to escape his attention, however, and he loves me just as much as if it made good sense. He holds me to his bosom (does God have a bosom?) and sings his sweet songs to me and tells me how much I mean to him, and then he takes me home. That's prodigal. That's overwhelming. That's what I'm talking about. That's God for ya.

I run in the path of your commands, Lord, for you have set my heart ... FREE.

*Such a cool blog I happened upon ... http://think_pink.typepad.com/think_pink/2004/08/ally_ally_in_fr.html

P.S. We're on our way to Springfield this morning to say hello for the first time to our first grandson, Chris and Melissa's first child. He was born about 10:20 last night, a big guy (9 lbs 7 oz) born on Fat Tuesday. But he's not fat (we're told). I'll forward his announcement email to you with a few pictures. When Chris was born he weighed 9 lbs 9 oz, so this guy is chasing him already. Here's part of Chris' blog-announcement (from the newboy's point of view):

Mom and dad have told me a little about why they named me Jack Titus. I guess Jack is of Hebrew origin and it means "God has been gracious." Titus is of Greek and Latin origin and it means "Hero" or "Defender." Titus is also one of my mom's favorite books of the Bible. It begins, "To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior." It is written to a young man who was working as a missionary under the direction of Paul and it talks a lot about how to be a strong leader in the church. It also teaches about how to live a life of purity, focus and how to make God proud. I guess those are things my parents think are important for me. One more time, say it loud, "Jack Titus"! Represent!

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009