May 27

Restored

"You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry, now restore!" Psalm 60:1

As the Psalmist expressed in this psalm, rejection is what I deserve. Sin once separated me from God. The darkness that surrounded my life even hid from me the fact that I was a sinner. I thought I was a good person; after all, I didn't commit those horrible sins that others committed. I did many good deeds: I went to church every Sunday and to week night Bible studies, I worked for the church, I even accepted that Jesus died for all mankind. But there was a void in my life that nothing could fill: not more good deeds, not more Bible studies, not more works. The hole in my heart was made by sin and only Jesus could fill that hole. And Jesus did fill that hole. It was the realization that Jesus died for me, for ME personally; that he took my place in death, that transformed my life. Realizing what it cost Him; to know that Jesus suffered so much cruelty and died such a gruesome death that I might be free from sin and have life is a gift for which I can never repay Him. The stripes that he received I deserved, the suffering that he endured should have been mine. I am the sinner, not Him; and yet because he loved me so, he suffered those things that I might be free. All I can do is praise Him!

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving your life for me; for giving me your light in exchange for the darkness of sin, for giving me true freedom for the chains of bondage that weighed me down, for giving me your righteousness in exchange for my filthy rags. I can never repay you for your love and your grace that have so freely flowed into my life. Dear Father in heaven, how can I ever say thanks enough for the gift of your Son? He is the son of your love, the apple of your eye, your only Son. There is no greater sacrifice for a father, than to give his Son to save another. Yet you did that for ME. Thank you for loving me so! Thank you for your grace and mercy! Thank you for redeeming even ME!