READY
“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” – 1 Peter 3:18
SET
Have you ever felt like your team played perfectly? Had a perfect play? My first two seasons coaching middle school girls basketball, my team only won two games. I felt very far from perfect. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I was helping the program at all. It is easy to group wins with success. To measure ourselves against our record, our stats, our athletes or our opponents. Unfortunately, we will never measure up if that is the standard we choose to use.
God demands perfection. In Leviticus 11:44-45 and then quoted by Paul in 1 Peter 1:16 we are called to “Be holy, because I am holy.” But, as we already know, none of us can do that. We’ve been messing this up since the Garden of Eden. The problem is to be in God’s presence we must be holy, so God sent Jesus. Hebrews 4:15 shows that Jesus lived a fully human life with one exception. He never, ever sinned. When He willingly died on the cross, He paid the penalty for your sin and mine.
We fall short every day. But that is not our final condition. If we know Jesus as our Savior, then we can get back up and keep trying over and over. It is the infinite love of God for us. His infinite forgiveness and desire for us to walk with Him.
GO
When did you first learn that Jesus died for your sins? How did/does that make you feel?
How does this truth change the way you live your life?
WORKOUT
Hebrews 4:15-16; Romans 5:12-21
OVERTIME
“Lord, thank You that Jesus lived a perfect life. I am grateful for Your forgiveness. Help me not to lose hope but to turn to Jesus. Help me to trust Him. In Your name, amen.”