January 22, 2022 7:00 pm
Les Miserablés begins with paroled convict Jean Valjean stealing a priest’s silver. He’s caught, and he expects to be returned to the mines. But the priest shocks everyone when he claims he’d given the silver to Valjean. After the police leave, he turns to the thief, “You belong no longer to evil, but to good.”
Such extravagant love points to the love that flowed from the fountain from which all grace comes. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter told his audience that less than two months before, in that very city, they had crucified Jesus. The crowd was crushed and asked what they must do. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Jesus had endured the punishment they deserved. Now their penalty would be forgiven if they put their faith in Him.
Oh, the irony of grace! The people could only be forgiven because of Christ’s death—a death they were responsible for. How gracious and powerful is God! He has used humanity’s greatest sin to accomplish our salvation! If God has already done this with the sin of crucifying Jesus, we may assume there’s nothing He can’t turn into something good. Trust the One who “in all things . . . works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
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Welcome to another Daily Encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Mike Whitmer and I title today's reading, This is Grace. Les Miserables begins with paroled convict John Valjean stealing a priest's silver. He's caught and he expects to be returned to the mines. But the priest shocks everyone when he claims he'd given the silver to Valjean.
After the police leave, he turns to the thief. You belong no longer to evil, but to good. Such extravagant love points to the love that flowed from the fountain from which all grace comes. On the day of Pentecost, Peter told his audience that less than two months before, in that very city, they had crucified Jesus. The crowd was crushed and asked what they must do. Peter replied in Acts 2-38, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus had endured the punishment they deserved. Now their penalty would be forgiven if they put their faith in him. Oh, the irony of grace.
The people could only be forgiven because of Christ's death, a death they were responsible for. How gracious and powerful is God? He's used humanity's greatest sin to accomplish our salvation. If God has already done this with the sin of crucifying Jesus, we may assume there's nothing he can't turn into something good.
Trust the one who, in all things, works for the good of those who love him. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Acts 2, verses 32-41. The Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this, God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? Peter replied, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he warned them, and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day. Let's pray. Dear Father, Thank You for Your extravagant love that rescued us from our sin. Please take all our fears and help us to trust You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-06-19 10:41:43 / 2023-06-19 10:43:15 / 2
