Devotion - Saved by the grace of God

Devotion and word of God by WELS. Like a mirror - for me.

This is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed." (Isaiah 52:3)

"Ty så säger HERREN: Ni har blivit sålda för intet, därför skall ni också utan pengar bli återlösta." (Jes. 52:3)

How Much Would You Pay?

"If you could have all the wealth of another nation, how much would you pay to make that happen? Would you spend millions to make billions?

Israel and Judah, God’s chosen people, were overrun by foreign nations. Those enemy nations took full control of the money, wealth and people of Israel and Judah. How much did it cost those enemy nations? Nothing.

But, it was not so much that God sold them, but that the people of Israel and Judah sold themselves. They chose to worship other gods. They chose repeatedly to follow ways directly forbidden by God. They sold themselves with their greed, their selfishness, their lust, their murder, their lack of love, their idolatry… They bought into all the wickedness that their sinful nature and the world around them were selling. They forsook the LORD. They sold themselves to sin, for nothing.

Have you sold yourself to sin? Have you bought into what the world and your sinful nature are selling? Is your history checkered like Israel and Judah’s – with greed, selfishness, lust, murder, lacking in love?

Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised to do something remarkable. He would buy back his people – WITHOUT MONEY! In a letter to 1st century Christians, Jesus’ disciple, Peter, wrote: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus did not buy into sin. He never sinned. Jesus was “without blemish or defect.” Through his perfect life and his precious blood, God redeemed you. God bought you back and forgave you.

Without a payment of money, God brought Judah out of the captivity they had sold themselves into. How much did God pay to rescue you? Without money, God bought you. Through Jesus’ blood, God redeemed you."


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the many times I’ve listened to temptation and sold myself into sin. Thank you for redeeming me through Jesus. Thank you for the priceless payment he made – one I could never afford or make. In thanks for your mercy and love, keep me from evil and sin. Amen.


http://www.wels.net/




Photo: Erik L.

"Worthy is the Lamb":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=9SjIqzuyKPE