Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

 “20) . . . and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and [complete] trust in) the Son of God, Who loved and gave Himself up for me. 21)  [Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God . . . ” The Amplified Bible (AMP).

The more my personal relationship with GOD grows through Christ Jesus, the more overwhelmed with gratitude for the love and compassion of GOD toward us created in His image replete with free-will. More often than not, however, we’ve exercised free-will to our detriment due to decisions that work in opposition to the will of GOD for our lives. Yet, despite the “stiff-neck” propensity of man (i.e., male, female) to ignore GOD’s precepts that resulted in moving farther away from our likeness to Him, GOD remained faithful to us as evidenced by the mystery of His plan revealed in sending His only begotten Son, JESUS – Mediator of the new covenant between GOD and man.

The more my personal relationship with the Lord Jesus grows by the teachings of the Holy Spirit (John 14: 26 & 16:13), the more overwhelmed with gratitude for His love and compassion toward us in agreeing to, and walking in perfect obedience to the will of God the Father on our behalf; that we might have abundant life by the all-redeeming, re-creating, reconciling, pacifying/peace sustaining, and all-restoring blood of JESUS.

To think about: the clarity JESUS had at the age of twelve in knowing that He was to be about the business of our heavenly Father (Luke 2:46-49); the hours upon hours spent in prayer (Luke 6:12; Mark 6:46); the countless healing(s) and other manifestations of miracles; the straight-forward teachings of the masses which later changed to teaching only in parables so that wisdom isn’t wasted on those who disdain it (Matthew 7:6); setting His face like flint in walking toward the brutality that would encompass The Passion of The Christ (Luke 9:51-56a); descending to take back the keys of death and Hell (Revelation 1:18), while standing steadfast in faith that God the Father would raise Him up (Ephesians 1:20-23 [AMP]; Psalm 8:6); and still advocating on our behalf against the ongoing accusations of Satan (1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 12:10).

Hence, on those occasions when we’re not proud about choosing television over spending time in the WORD -or- that we responded to the bad behavior of another in like fashion, as opposed to responding in a manner reflective of an ambassador of Christ (which is never synonymous with doormat), we may remain steadfast on Romans 8:1-2 in the knowledge that right standing is of the grace of God the Father and the blood of JESUS Who paid it all. The favor of GOD is upon all who acknowledge and confess Jesus the Anointed One as Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10 [AMP]; 1Jn 4:15; Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:21 & 38). Activated faith is the comprehension and application of the WORD which quickens the power within; that we may come into the fullness of GOD (1 Thessalonians 5:24; Psalms 32:8 & 138:8; Philippians 1:6 & 2:13). Hallelujah!

Speak the promise . . . Harriet