This is not a Christmas devotional, per se; even though we are still officially in the twelve days known as Christmastide, the Christmas season in the Church. Today is merely an expression of absolute joy!
Welcome to “Mornings with Bishop Robert” — It’s a joy to see you, come on in and have a seat. My goal is to introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better ! If our time together today speaks to your heart, then let me invite you to like, subscribe and share it with a friend! Join our email list to get a free copy of my book COUNT TO ONE, get Mornings with Bishop Robert sent directly to your inbox each morning, and lots of other great benefits. Click the link in the description.
Some nights ago my wife and I went out to dinner. I had three gift cards in hand, and so the entire cost of meal and tip was well covered; we wouldn’t spend a penny out of pocket. (That’s MY kind of meal !) I was glad about the free dinner, but there is a difference between gladness and joy.
While we were there we noticed one of the people on staff. Actually, it would have been hard NOT to notice him. He was really enjoying himself as he worked. He’d quietly sing along to the songs being played in the restaurant, and I noticed him dancing a bit as he waited for an order to come up. He delivered meals to his customers with a genuine smile. He REALLY was enjoying himself and his customers. But there’s even a difference between enjoying something and joy.
Today’s verse tells us:
OH, WHAT JOY FOR THOSE WHOSE DISOBEDIENCE IS FORGIVEN, WHOSE SINS ARE PUT OUT OF SIGHT
If you’re walking with the Lord, there’s a certain pit-of-the-stomach feeling when you’ve blown it and fallen into sin.
It may have been a spur of the moment terrible choice, or it may have been a choice made after an extended battle with temptation. It doesn’t matter, really; because either way the net result is the same. You’ve totally messed up, and you know it. It may be something utterly new to you, something you’ve never fallen into before. Or it could be a sin that has beset you for quite some time, one that you battle with regularly – and lose the battle often.
You’ve lacerated your relationship with Christ. There’s a cut. It is painful. It may be deep or not, depending upon precisely how you’ve sinned. But the relationship has been slashed. You feel it, Christ feels it.
I’ve chosen the illustration of a laceration deliberately, because with every laceration there is blood. But if you’re in a faith relationship with Christ, the blood is HIS.
HIS BLOOD covers our sin. Christians are not people who’ve become perfect. We are still human, often disgustingly so. Christians are people who have invited Christ to be their Lord, even though we fail to follow perfectly. Christians are people whose hearts are set upon walking with Him in all things, even though we stumble and fall. Most importantly, Christians are people whose sins are put our of sight by the blood of Jesus Christ.
OH, WHAT JOY FOR THOSE WHOSE DISOBEDIENCE IS FORGIVEN, WHOSE SINS ARE PUT OUT OF SIGHT
In the midst of the pain of your sin, you may think your sin is too great to be forgiven. Your guilt may convince you that you are beyond the reach of grace. But you are not! As horrible as they are, your sins are all forgivable as you come to Christ and receive grace upon grace at the hand of Christ. His blood covers our sin and puts it out of sight – HIS sight, our sight and others sight. Total forgiveness.
He always forgives. It is not CHEAP grace, it was purchased at the most costly of prices. But for us, He gives it freely.
And THAT, my friends, brings true JOY !
