When we stand before the
Lord, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are in a highly blessed place.
We have entered the holy of holies. We have ascended to the right hand of the
Father with Jesus. We are exalted with Christ, seated at His table, declared
friends of Jesus and gladly welcomed by His Father, our Father, the Creator of
the universe. Think on these things. They are marvelous.
I do
not say these things merely to make you feel good about yourself. If we stand before
the Lord as ourselves, by ourselves, we will not feel good. We will be fearful
of what the Holy One of Israel might do to us. But we do not stand here as
ourselves by ourselves. We are all in Christ and being in Christ means that the
Father looks upon us the way that He looks upon His only beloved Son, the One
in whom He is well pleased.
For a host of reasons, you may not feel the welcome
assurance of God, our Father. Life, health, emotions, doubts, all get in the
way. But I exhort you to hear the Word of God from a minister of the good news
in Jesus Christ. The Lord speaks peace to you. The Lord speaks a blessing to
you. The Lord speaks to you as a kindhearted Father. Hear him and stand upon
this truth in faith, resting not in your own feelings or even your own thoughts,
but resting in Christ, who is faithful and true. He is always true to His Word.
The Lord is faithful and just to forgive sinners. Having heard these Words of
Assurance, let us stand boldly in the presence of the Lord with hearts full of
gratitude for His kindness to us in Christ.
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