fasting-empty-plate-13FORGIVE

As a parent there have been times where I have had to ground a child and then the next day I couldn’t exactly remember why the grounding occurred. He didn’t get out of it completely, but it was greatly reduced. That actually happened this past week. If you are a parent that has probably happened to you as well. With that in mind we’re going to talk about the 5th redemptive name:

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU – The Lord, our righteousness
This name is found in Jeremiah.

6 “In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” ~ Jeremiah 23:6

When we think about God being 100% completely righteous and that his character is that of a pure judge, we have to keep a couple of things in mind. He isn’t like us: 1. He cannot forget 2. He cannot lessen the punishment, for any reason 3. He will always exact the perfect judgement without any partiality.

AND even though that is harsh, when we process through it … there is no other way we would want Him to be. What if God let certain people into heaven because He just liked them better, but He just didn’t like your personality? What if your punishment was a slap on the wrist, but the same thing tomorrow warranted a death penalty? His character would be flawed and we would have no clue how to please Him. The way to heaven would be completely convoluted and unfair.

There is another side to this coin. The Apostle Paul writes this in His letter to the Romans:

10 “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;”

If there is no one in all humanity that is Righteous and God is the Righteous Judge, where does that leave us? We would not be allowed in His presence, so, that leaves us banished from his presence for eternity (other wise know as Hell).

Here is the beautiful part of the whole thing. Because of His righteousness, His judgement demanded the payment for our sin. Because of His mercy He delayed the payment (not lessened it, just push the actual punishment date). Then, because of His Grace he paid the full payment of our sins, through Jesus Christ. God had to come to earth in the form of man to be a perfect righteous man and be the only one ever worthy enough to make the payment. AND when he did it was enough for all of humanity.

21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

Now, because of the blood of Jesus, we have been made completely righteous, because the penalty has been paid. Our problem is that we still have a hard time understanding that great gift that we have been given. I think part of this is because we ourselves have a hard time forgiving and restoring someone’s place in our lives. Here’s today’s questions to ponder on.

Q. ARE YOU WILLING TO FORGIVE MORE, TO UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS BETTER?

Happy Fasting,
P. Sean

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