God’s word is timeless in its truths. When we study God’s word diligently, we learn about ourselves. It is a mirror into our souls that shows us how blessed we are as believers.
As Christians, we know one thing, and it is that we are not perfect. The Bible clearly states, “ There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10; NLT). Even the good that we do can’t measure up to the righteous of God.
“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:6; NLT).
In our sinfulness, God gave His most precious gift, Jesus that we may spend eternity with Him. “ For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17;NLT)
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” (Romans 5:8-9;NLT)
God’s love for us gave us a way to be forgiven of all the wrong that we have done. While Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross saves us from an eternity without God, it does not free us from the sinful nature we have on this earth. We will always struggle with our sinful nature, and we are tested and tried in this world. God is forgiving. When we sin “… if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” ( I John 1:9; NLT).
“ O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.” (Psalms 86:5: NLT).
God’s word is so true and full of life; we know that the goodness of God blesses us.
“For the LORD, God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalms 84:11: NLT)
Even in our sinfulness, God has loved us, forgiven us, saved us, and blessed us. It is all there for us to see in His word. The Bible gives us a picture of who we are and what we are in Christ. It is far from what we deserve, but we are cherished by a heavenly Father who cares.
In your time studying the scriptures, what have you learned about yourself? What have you changed in your life to be a better reflection of Christ?
