The God Against Us Came For Us

Today I read: 1 Chronicles 15, Psalm 91, Amos 9, James 2.

Gospel summary: Although we all deserve God to be against us and pursue us for evil, in Christ he has become for us and pursues us for good. The gospel is the good news not primarily that we changed in our relation to God, but that God changed in his relation to us...all because of his grace.

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you that you chose of your own free and sovereign will to pursue my eternal salvation instead of pursuing my eternal ruin as my sins deserved. It was nothing but your grace that led you to send Christ to bear my sins in exchange for his righteousness and to send your Spirit to apply Christ's redeeming work to my heart, so for that I praise you. Let me remember how utterly lost I was so I will never forget how great your saving power has been in my life and may never spend a moment ungrateful again. Preserve me ever faithful by your Word, that I may resist the tug of the old man toward my destruction and may ever follow you to life eternal. Place someone in or off my path today that stands condemned and in need of your saving grace in Christ and give me the words from you, O God the great Soul Winner. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Memory verses: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent." (‭Psalm‬ ‭91‬:‭1-10‬ ESV)

Hymn: "And Can It Be" by Charles Wesley

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Saviour's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above--
So free, so infinite His grace--
Humbled Himself in matchless love
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.