There is no one like our God!  God is where life begins!  His Son, Jesus, the Word of God made flesh who moved into the neighborhood of humanity demonstrated the attributes of God as he walked and talked among the people. “We have never heard preaching and teaching like this before,” the people exclaimed! The ordinary people, oppressed by the Roman government were also oppressed and confused by those of God’s people who were generationally put in charge.  Most were arrogant, pride filled, and pious religious leaders who displayed a performance religion of ranking among God’s people.  They also added many situational laws with payment of sins to them in order to gain position, wealth, and power over the people.  They walked among them, dressed in the clothing of saints with only human answers with a human payment system to fill their pocketbooks.  Humanity’s deepest needs were not met until Jesus.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
and in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

Our God is an awesome God because He is a just God!  No human on earth could do what Jesus, Son of Man/Son of God did—pay the sacrifice for the sins of the world in full with his own life and set the captives of oppression free.  Justice is freedom with surrender to God through Jesus Christ, His Son.  I had a mentor who defined God’s justice and freedom from punishment of sin in repentance as being “just as if” you had never sinned—debt paid in full!  We sin, for all have sinned, but God forgives because Jesus paid the debt of the sins of the world—AND cleans the slate to give us new life to begin fresh without the sins that once held us down.  If we are praying for repentance again of a certain sin; God won’t know what you are talking about! Think about it!  Unlike humans; God forgives and forgets our repented sin, “as far as the east is from the west, not longer are our sins held against us”, “to be remembered no more”!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!

(O Holy Night, Translator: John Sullivan Dwight; Author: Placide Cappeau, 1847)

God is powerful, compassion in all His ways, faithful through all generation in His love for us, from Adam who fell to sin to Jesus who did not sin.  Therefore Jesus, who was without sin took on the sins of the world and paid the debt of sin we owe in full.  We only need to believe that He did.  Do we? Do we really believe what God has said in His Word and what He did through Jesus to be really real?  Take time to ponder in prayers of submission to our God who knows our hearts and our needs for Him.

Psalm 119:73-80, The Message

י Yodh

With your very own hands you formed me;
    now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.
When they see me waiting, expecting your Word,
    those who fear you will take heart and be glad.
I can see now, God, that your decisions are right;
    your testing has taught me what’s true and right.
Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!
    just the way you promised.
Now comfort me so I can live, really live;
    your revelation is the tune I dance to.
Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds;
    they tried to sell me a bill of goods,
    but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.
Let those who fear you turn to me
    for evidence of your wise guidance.
And let me live whole and holy, soul and body,
    so I can always walk with my head held high.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

True believers in God accept His gift of salvation through Jesus, repent of their sins in Jesus Name to God with a desire to daily surrender to His will and plan as an offering to give back to our Savior and Lord who bought us at the highest price—His own Body along with all the suffering, shame and humiliation that should have been ours! Humbled believers know God’s mercy and justice offered with His love and grace is the highest form of love with eternal life! God is love.  If we know God and seek His wisdom; we know love, real abiding, unconditional love that seeks God’s justice, loves His merciful ways, with a desire to humbly walk with Him in trust and obedience. True, committed believers want to be like the One who saved us from death.  Believers accept His forgiveness and are set free from the bondage of the world’s injustices that evil would like for us to be wrapped up in for eternity.  We are not perfect, but wholly and completely forgiven in the Name of Jesus!

Yes, it is Jesus who laid down His life for our sins.  God’s justice served in and through His Son for all who believe.  Jesus, our Advocate, is King of kings and Lord of lords.  Whom then shall we love and serve with all that is within us?  JESUS!

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Name of Jesus, God’s Son!

To God be the honor, glory, and praise forever and ever! Amen!

Lord,

Thank you for this portion of Psalm 119 that teaches us wisdom with justice and clarity of who you are with who we are in you. Thank you for paying the debts of sin I owe. Thank you for making me wholly devoted to you!  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation work within me.  You are a just and holy God!  To you be the glory. Thank you, thank you, thank you!  “Keep my mind fixed on your counsel”.

In Jesus Name, Amen