April 20, 2018 - - II Corinthians 6:16,18; 7:1 God's Great Promises

I will make my dwelling among them

and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

...and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the LORD Almighty.

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

II Corinthians 6:16,18; 7:1 ESV

He Who spoke creation into being,

He will live among His people.

He Who gives breath to every living creature,

He is our God.

He Who created the whale and elephant, microbe and mouse,

He is our Father.

The Psalmist exclaims (103:12):

"as far as the east is from the west,

so far does He remove our transgressions from us"

That means, in Jesus Christ, our wrong-doing, our sins, our willful rebellion against God is forgiven!

What incentive we have to cleanse ourselves from sin. What glory is in view, stripping ourselves of old sins and patterns that hinder such sweet communion with God. As family in Christ, we encourage one another with this view--running from sin we flee into the open arms of our Father in heaven. Where one sister is stumbling or another brother has fallen, we pick them up and encourage them and supporting them as we go to the arms of Him Who loves us.

The brightness of this passage is almost too intense for us, too great for our imagining, Father of Mercy. It is easier to see the stains of our sins and the blotches colouring all our thoughts and actions rather than contemplate the majesty of Your promises. Spirit of God, renew our faith so that we will be lifted up to hope and greater faith in Jesus Christ. Let us walk, no run, towards to blessedness pictured here today. Free us from every sin that entangles us and every weight that hinders us and let us, together, set our course to greater intimacy with God. Amen