"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One
of Israel, says:"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and
trust is your strength,
but you would have none of
it.""
{Isaiah 30:15} (NIV1984)
When we
fail, when we sin, we fall into old patterns of behaviour and then we condemn
ourselves. We used to be condemned before we met Christ, and so when we go back
to our sin, we feel that condemnation. Friend, it is a lie! There is no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).
Consider our
Lord’s response to the woman brought to Him. She deserved death according to
the Law. The stipulation Jesus added was that the one without sin cast the
first stone. Friend, He was without sin, but He didn’t cast any stones. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him (Jn 3:17).
We think of God as angry and upset that we
didn’t avail ourselves of the grace that was there for us not to sin, so our
sinful tendency is to run from Him in fear. Here I am! I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat
with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20). Repentance and rest is our salvation.
Draw near to Him in repentance; weep the tears that Peter wept. His arms are
open wide, ready to forgive, ready to restore. Then rest in the finished work
of Christ and rest in His grace. Oh Jesus draw me close this day!
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