Bible Ballistics: BBs #298 Redeemed, Delivered, Forgiven!!!

 

Just want to share a word of encouragement for your Wednesday; when we belong to Jesus we are redeemed by His blood, delivered from the darkness, and forgiven for our own SIN!!! That’s a lot to be grateful for, and gratitude is good for the body, mind, soul, as well as those around us!

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful

in every good work,

and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks

unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”     Colossians 1:10-14

Do you see it? We are called to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful”!!! We are to live in a manner “worthy” of the God we claim to serve and belong to; believers are “children of God”! We are to “please” our Lord Jesus and The Father in all we do; and when we please God we will be fruitful in His service, His ministry and His kingdom, whatever HE has called and lead us to do—no matter how big or small the calling. God’s measuring stick is not like the world’s, He has eternity in view—not just the here and now!

When we “walk” right, we will grow in the “knowledge of God”, through His Word, through prayer and through the life experience of living in HIS faithfulness! And HE is faithful—always has been, is now and ever will be—and I praise Him for it. Oh to be found pleasing when He returns, or when He calls me to Himself!

Oh, to know Him more intimately every day, it’s the desire of my heart; and I pray that it is yours! But there is more, He doesn’t leave us to our own ability but HE provides so that we can be “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power”! It’s HIS strength that enables me to press on—NOT mine—praise His precious Name! But, there is even more! I can not only have HIS strength to empower and enable me, but I can experience and utilize it with “all”:

“patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

Giving thanks”!

I can live victoriously by God’s grace, provision and power!! I can succeed before God with that “P” word—the one we all hate to use—Patience, and also Longsuffering. Patience is almost always in regard to external pressure of circumstances, and longsuffering is used in regard to personalities (You know putting up with those difficult people). While the world screams “You don’t have to put up with that”! Sometimes, even oftentimes, God is saying I’ve put you in that place to “put up with” that person who needs to see Jesus IN YOU!!! Ouch! But don’t stop there, Paul tells us that we can not only accomplish this kind of “love living” (God’s love in us, See Romans 5:1-11) but we can do it with “thanksgiving”! And NO, it’s not just a “holiday”; it is a lifestyle that believers should be practicing every day! Ouch, again!

Yet we can have victory in all of these things, not because we are so good, or so strong but because of Jesus—His death, burial and resurrection for our sin. It’s because of what He did for me, for you!

“Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins”

Delivered—

 

Redeemed—

 

Forgiven—

That’s us! All who are forgiven in the “new birth” of salvation, and we owe it all to Jesus. As Andre’ Crouch so beautifully wrote in his song “My Tribute”:

“I owe it all to Thee…..To God be the glory!”

Amen and Amen. So remember today—Jesus brings Redemption—Deliverance—Forgiveness. Live in it! Grow in it! Let the world see Jesus Christ The Savior in YOU!!! Today!!!