The law, grace and truth (20)

Holy Spirit, breathe on the lives of Your sons and daughters as they read the Word. Transform their lives, restore their souls onto the paths of righteousness and renew their minds in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

The LORD God instructed Moses to read the law to the people in order to prepare them to serve the LORD in the promised land that He had blessed them with. If you recall, time and time again, Moses had spoken to Pharaoh and asked him to let the children of Israel go in order for them to serve God (Exodus 8:1).

Let's fast forward, the children of Israel have departed from Egypt and travelling through the wilderness on their way to the promised land. When we look at the law that was given to God's people through Moses and grace and truth that came through Christ, it is safe to observe that God still honours each individual's choices today like He did in the past.

In Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"

Right before these verses, Moses read to the people that God's commandment was not too mysterious for them nor is it far off. But he continued to say, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deuteronomy 30:11 & 30:14). Friend, the enemy wants you to think that God is far from you and your situation but take heart. The LORD is closer to you more than you can imagine.

In Romans 10:13, God reveals the way for His people to become right with Him and the Word says that any person that would call on the name of the LORD will be saved.

Ultimately, it appears that the choice that Moses was referring to above is the choice of life that is found in the salvation that comes by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When it comes to receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, it is an individual's choice backed by the power of the Holy Spirit to introduce you to a personal relationship between you and God that is received only by faith in Christ. Salvation is not based on merit or any good actions that someone has done. God in His love, does not only require us to choose obedience but He also provides the power and grace to everyone who chooses to willingly obey Him. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

This is the reason we are able to obey the law because God imparts His grace to us that is found in Christ. For example: one of God's commandments which is the second greatest tells us to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39).

We see then that it is God who gives us this divine ability and enablement which is known as grace that empowers us to love those around us as we love ourselves including the ones who may not be too good at receiving love. So we find that God in His grace and love reconciles our hearts to His heart where our choices reflect His heart there by aligning us to the calling and purposes that He originally prepared for us to receive in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10).

Peter, one of the Apostles of the early church, during his first sermon to the church was asked by the people what they should do to receive Christ to which he answered; Acts 38-39 NKJV, "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." - Amen, thank you LORD.

Ultimately, the promise that was once only for the Jews is now available to all the people by the LORD's mercy and grace. At the same time, as a child of God who has received Jesus, it is important to make choices that enhance your walk with Christ. The only difference between the law and grace in this scenario is that believers of the Lord Jesus are no longer under a curse because the law states that whoever hangs on a tree is cursed (Deuteronomy 21:3). Jesus hang on the tree and bore all our sins, iniquities, sicknesses, including curses on behalf of every man (Galatians 3:13). Thus, whoever believes in Christ as the Son of God has been redeemed from the curse of the law and Galatians 3:14 continues to say, "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

I'll end with this Word found in Psalm 91:15-16 (NKJV)

15. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

16. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation."

AMEN, thank you LORD.

If you are reading this and you do not have a relationship with Jesus, I believe as you were reading, the Holy Spirit has been drawing your heart to receive eternal life and the free gift of salvation that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. If this sounds like you, please say this prayer with me;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD! YOU ARE OFFICIALLY REDEEMED. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!