Day 11 - As Far as the East is from the West
April 14, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra • Micah 7:19, 1 John 1:9—2:1
Do you still feel guilty about it? That thing you did. Maybe it happened yesterday, maybe it happened eight years ago. . No matter what it was, you may be holding on to unnecessary guilt. . Guilt does have a purpose. It leads us to repentance and encourages us not to do evil again... but that purpose can be twisted by Satan. . God wants us to feel sorry for our sins, repent, and ask forgiveness. But, once these sins are forgiven, they’re gone. Poof! In Christ, God has removed them from us. If we put our trust in Him, we carry these old sins no more. The Bible even says that God separates us from our sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). . God does not want His people to sit in their guilt and pour over sins already forgiven. Jesus took on our punishment for us. He died and was forsaken for our sins, taking on God’s wrath for us so that we don’t have to feel shame for our wrongdoings. . Besides guilt, another problem Christians face is shame. Shame is similar to guilt, but instead of seeing wrong in your sins, you see wrong in yourself. Shame changes “I did something bad” into “I’m a bad person.” . As Christians, we were once defined by our sins. But, when we put our trust in Jesus, He gives us a new identity. We are now children of God, wrapped in Christ’s righteousness (or sinlessness). God wants us to rejoice in Him and not feel shameful. . If you feel guilt or shame, repent of the sins you’re thinking of and ask forgiveness. If you still feel guilt and shame after that, take some time today to thank Jesus for the grace and forgiveness He has already given you. You are no longer captive to the power of guilt and shame. You are held in the love of Christ. • Naomi Zylstra . • Have you put your trust in Jesus to save you from sin? If not, what questions do you have? To learn more about what it means to know Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . • If you’re a Christian, are you still holding on to guilt for certain sins? Have you confessed them to God? What can you do today to celebrate God’s grace and forgiveness? . As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
Roll on Like a River
January 20, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra
Mass shootings, racism, sexual assault, displacement—our world is riddled with injustices, and they sting. We live in a world broken by sin. But there is hope in the midst of these injustices. The book of Amos says God’s justice will “roll on like a river” (Amos 5:24). Then, in Revelation 21, God promises to one day remove death, suffering, and pain, wiping away our tears as He does. In short, God hears us when we cry out against injustice. But even though we know part of God’s plan is to bring His justice, we wonder, *How will He bring justice to all of the hurts in our world?* First, Jesus showed us God’s justice carried out. When He died on the cross, He took on the sins of the world and God’s just punishment for them. Anyone who puts their trust in Jesus has their sins nailed to the cross. Second, those who have rejected Jesus’ work on the cross will face Him at the Judgment Day, and He promises to punish and bring justice for every outstanding injustice then. So, ultimately, whether through the cross or at the Judgment Day, all injustice will be made right (2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 3:9-13). In the meantime, God calls His people to act justly here and now as we wait for His upcoming justice. Jesus Himself acted against injustice in His everyday life when He flipped over tables in the temple, stopping the money changers who were taking advantage of people (Mark 11:15-17). That means that one way we can show Jesus to others is through seeking after justice. While we wait for our Savior to return and bring ultimate justice, we, as Christians, can speak out against any injustice we encounter. • Did anything surprise you from today’s reading? If so, what? • Where do you see injustice in the world today? How can you help, showing Jesus’ love and justice to those involved? And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:7-8 (NIV)
Peace Beyond Understanding
January 2, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra
Relax your shoulders. Take a deep breath and let out the tension you’ve been holding. Feel any better? God calls Himself “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). And one way He provides comfort is by giving His peace to His children through Christ. His peace goes beyond our understanding—showing up even when we face less-than-peaceful situations. Have you ever encountered someone who has lost a loved one yet still speaks about feeling Jesus’ peace? This doesn’t mean they aren’t grieving or they feel no emotions. Rather, God’s peace is a way God meets His children *in the midst of* their grief. In the book of Matthew, Jesus calls all people to come to Him for rest (Matthew 11:28-30). His rest goes beyond a simple power nap. God’s rest is for your whole self—rest from the guilt, shame, and slavery of sin’s power. It’s a rest rooted in truth: you are saved if your is faith in Jesus Christ. He promises to be with you through anything you face, and He will one day make all things new, free from the suffering caused by sin and death (Revelation 21:1-5). Take a moment and realize that, if you know Jesus, you have rest and peace in Him. He loves you and will give you comfort in His presence and promises, no matter what you’re facing. • What is causing you stress or worry? • How have you seen peace beyond understanding in your life? In someone else’s life? And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (CSB)