by Susan Sampson

Ralph Venning in 1669 wrote The Sinfulness of Sin.  I bought this book in the desire to see my sin more clearly so I can know the love of my Lord more greatly.  Listen to how our sin is described:  “In short, sin is the dare of God’s justice, the rape of his mercy, the jeer of his patience, the slight of his power, the contempt of his love…the upbraiding of his providence, the scoff of his promise and the reproach of his wisdom…It opposes and exalts itself above all that is called God.”

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

I want to know the one who freely and completely pardoned me of this by allowing himself to be slaughtered in my place!  “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:5). 

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin” (Rom. 4:7-8).

Jesus, the Son of God, is a person, not a philosophy!  Wow, do I need this continual reminder. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:24-25).

Lord, have mercy on me a sinner!  I want to return to you, the Overseer of my soul.  I want Jesus to be in control of me!  “I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies” (Ps. 119:146).  I don’t want to live in my flesh any more.  I want to draw a line in the sand.  I don’t want to scoff like Namaan did when you told him to dip himself in the river 7 times.  Please give us grace to hear and believe and come up under your Word and do it because you have said so.  Your Word is truth.  Our feelings are not trustworthy!

We can’t do this apart from your grace.  We desperately need you!  Enable us by your grace to put our flesh to death and abide in you, the true vine.  “I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).

Ralph Venning describes sin in another way: “sin is the Devil’s image.”  But in Christ we are to be renewed in God’s image (Col. 3:10) as God created us to be: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26a).

Heavenly Father, may we have much grace to enable us to do as we were instructed to do in the lecture and not go to sleep tonight without making an intentional declaration, choosing by faith to resolve (as Daniel resolved not to defile himself) to no longer serve our flesh, but instead serve our Savior.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:56).

by Angie Thomas

I am sitting here writing this at almost 11 am still in my pajamas.  It’s been one of those mornings.  It started with waking up at 5:45 out of a dream/nightmare where I was frantically searching for my new baby.  In my dream he was several months old and we were with a bunch of friends and family at this big convention and someone else was watching him for awhile and when I went to retrieve him, no one knew where he was.  I woke up to the emotions of fear and dread that I had lost my baby.  I stumbled into my rocking chair where I spend time with the Lord each morning and was plagued with doubts and questions from a conversation I had yesterday with some friends.  I kept calling out to the Lord to let me focus on His truths and His promises but my heart just felt tired and unable to focus.  I tried reading my study but could hardly concentrate.  I finally walked back into our bedroom and asked my husband if he would pray with me and for me.  He had also had a frustrating day yesterday.

As we began to pray the Lord reminded of what Laurie shared on Tuesday night during the lecture about the importance of the cross and meditating on it and what Christ’s sacrifice did and is accomplishing for us each and every day.  I sensed the Lord’s Spirit wash over me with reassurance and peace as I remembered how much Jesus suffered on the cross on my behalf.  His love for me was powerfully demonstrated there, even if today’s circumstances do not seem to be sending the same message.  The message of the cross for me, for you, for everyday in the muck and mire of this life is Christ loves you!

My light and momentary trials pale in comparison to His suffering, but also His glory!  Because of what He accomplished on the cross, Jesus now rules and reigns over every seeming obstacle in our days. Hebrews, 12:2 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I love verses that speak about God’s rule and His reign.  They encouraged me to press on this morning, to keep walking forward as we look to Jesus, high and lifted up, seated on His throne.

 Psalm 93:1: The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.”

Isaiah 6:1b, 3 (NIV): “I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. …And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy,holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory.'”

Revelation 19:6: Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.'”

So, I pray this encourages you today to see Christ and the cross and His throne and to keep pressing on.  Our physical realities are such a dim picture of what is going on in the spiritual realm.  I pray you would know His love for you in real and tangible ways.

Introduction by Dottie Ryan
Poem by John Newton

In a recent Falling in Love Again with Your Lord session, Laurie read a poem to us during her lecture.  She thought it might be a blessing for you to have this poem at your fingertips.

May your Lord speak to your heart through the words that were penned by John Newton.  O the beauty of poetry when it is bent towards our Lord, discovering His ways are higher than our ways –- discovering more of who He truly is and determined not to hang so tightly-gripped to who we thought He must be.  O the peace that comes as we begin to open closed hands and minds to His truth and embrace His grace and love instead.  And O what comfort awaits us as we are brought to the realization that the pain, the suffering, the trials we may be currently experiencing, . . . well, that others have and are experiencing something similar.  And oddly enough, we can find a sort of solace in the fact that someone else “gets it.”

I wonder…have you ask the Lord for more grace and faith?  Does it seem to come in a way you hadn’t anticipated?  Are you willing to see a trial, a season, a painful dealing as an answered prayer by a loving God? Can prayer really be answered by crosses? I pray His Spirit would shine light on the “otherness” of God as you read, meditate, and pray through this poem and that we would all come to a deeper realization of His Divine Sovereign Love.  Ah that we would allow Him to be our all in all!

“Prayer Answered by Crosses”

by John Newton

I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith and prayer and every grace,
Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face.

Twas He who taught me thus to pray, And He, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way As almost drove me to despair

I hop’d that in some favour’d hour At once He’d answer my request
And by his love’s constraining power, Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart,
And bade the angry powers of hell Assault my soul in every part

Yea, more, with His own hand He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this? I trembling cried, Wilt thou pursue Thy worm to death?
Tis in this way, the Lord replied, I answer prayer for grace and faith.

Those inward trials I employ, From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy, That thou mayest seek thine all in Me.