Topic: Love and Peace [Our Daily Bread 8 February 2019 Devotional]

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4–5; Matthew 24:29–51

You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead. . . . You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. – Psalm 16:10–11

Today’s Scripture & Insight: Psalm 16:1-11

It always amazes me the way peace—powerful, unexplainable peace (Philippians 4:7)—can somehow fill our hearts even in our deepest grief. I experienced this most recently at my father’s memorial service. As a long line of sympathetic acquaintances passed by offering their condolences, I was relieved to see a good high school friend. Without a word, he simply wrapped me in a long bear hug. His quiet understanding flooded me with the first feelings of peace within grief that difficult day, a powerful reminder that I wasn’t as alone as I felt.

As David describes in Psalm 16, the kind of peace and joy God brings into our lives isn’t caused by a choice to stoically stomp down the pain during hard times; it’s more like a gift we can’t help but experience when we take refuge in our good God (vv. 1–2).

We could respond to the aching pain that death brings by distracting ourselves, perhaps thinking that turning to these other “gods” will keep the pain at bay. But sooner or later we’ll find that efforts to avoid our pain only bring deeper pain (v. 4).

Or we could turn to God, trusting that even when we don’t understand, the life He’s already given us—even in its pain—is still beautiful and good (vv. 6–8). And we can surrender to His loving arms that tenderly carry us through our pain into a peace and joy that even death can never quench (v. 11).

Today’s Reflection
Father, thank You for the way Your tender touch embraces and holds us in our times of joy and pain. Help us to turn in trust to You for healing.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Monica Brands [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Rhapsody of Realities 8 February 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – The Blotting Out Of Our Transgressions

Topic: The Blotting Out Of Our Transgressions

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

In many places where the word “forgiveness” is used, it should actually be translated “remission.” Remission means liberty, release, separation; it means letting the offence or offences go as though they never existed. Your error is treated as though it never happened; totally separated from you, and separated from your history. Can you imagine that?

Someone might wonder, “How can that be?” But that’s what we read in our opening verse; God did it according to the riches of His grace. That means God has the capacity to completely separate a man from his sins as though he never committed any sin, by virtue of the blood of Jesus Christ! That’s not forgiveness. Forgiveness is to pardon. In forgiveness, you’re released from punishment, even though the record remains that you were an offender.

Growing up as a young Christian, we were taught certain things that weren’t quite accurate. One of such teachings was that the sinner gets remission, while the Christian gets forgiveness. That is, when you’re born again, your sins are remitted, but afterwards, if you do anything wrong, you receive forgiveness.

But think about it: if the sinner gets remission and his sins are completely wiped out, never to be remembered, why is the Christian having his own sins on record? The Christian shouldn’t be getting something lesser than what the sinner got. What we have in Christ is remission of sins.

What then happens when you do something wrong? You’re automatically cleansed by the Blood of Jesus: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Thank you blessed Father, for your loving-kindness. You provided for the remission of sins for your children. I pray, therefore, that Christians all around the world would come to this knowledge and refuse to be held bound by the accusations of the enemy, as they walk in your grace and in your righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 4:6-8; Hebrews 8:10-12; Hebrews 10:16-18

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 26:31-56 & Exodus 34-35

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 13:10-23 & Genesis 39

Click HERE to Read previous Messages

Rhapsody of Realities 8th February 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.