Day 1. He is our Redemption

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us----redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensible, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14).

Thank you, Jesus, for being our redemption. Why do I so often forget this—why do I try to redeem myself by fruitless attempts at self- righteousness? You have appeared in this world to provide salvation for all peoples. You have given Yourself for us and You have rescued us from a life of slavery to sin. We are totally yours, yet I try to pull away to follow my own inclinations. Today I ask you to remind me each hour of your ultimate and final sacrifice for me. The price You paid was beyond measure. There is no further sacrifice needed. All has been paid, and I can only claim this by faith in You.

The world system continually beckons me to follow its ways. Yet it is an empty call, for it does not hold promise of the future. You alone offer life—in fact it is Your life that is given to me. Your Spirit is my comforter and guide. Let me not turn aside into blind passages that will only lead to emptiness and despair. Instead I want to listen to your still, small voice that reaches me in my quiet moments. Oh that my spirit can be yielded before you so that I may have ears to hear.

It has always been Your plan to redeem us. I know that You live (Job 19:25a). You walk with me and talk with me. How can I not trust You?

Thank you Jesus for this day. Let me walk more closely toYou. I know that Your grace will proclaim my freedom to this world. Let me honor You in all that we do together. Amen.









Day 2. He is our Justification.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned, for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:14-17).

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us --- righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Father in heaven, I am overwhelmed by the concept of justification. When I was in Adam my guilt condemned me, and none of my self-righteous acts could erase the record of my sin. But Father, by Your grace, You have offered Jesus as my righteousness. I find you are treating me as though I had never been a sinner at all. The record is clean in Your eyes. All of this is due to the free gift that Jesus offers to us—it is His life within me that allows You, Lord, to see me clothed in Your Son. I am so thankful that I can never justify myself, for it would not stand the tests of life that surround me. Only Jesus was without sin, and I claim by faith that He is my life.

As a result of all of this, I know that I am acceptable to You. I stand today as a free man. I know there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Although I may sin and fall short of Your goals for me, I know that my position within Christ does not change. I repent of my sins and I know that my new nature in Christ is clean. I love Jesus all the more for Your grace that permits this wonderful relationship that we have.

Today, as I walk with Jesus, I claim by faith that I am a new, justified creation that is specially designed to express His life. I will look for the best in all others that I face, and I will look for opportunities that You create to reach them for You. For that can only be my goal in view of how You have treated me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.





Day 3. He is our Sanctification

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us---sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30).

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Genesis 2:3).

Thank you God for setting me aside for holiness. On my own efforts I would know nothing of this, but you have established, before time began, that my faith in Jesus would allow You to place this precious gift of the Christ-Life within me. Just as You set aside the seventh day of creation, You have also allowed me to be set aside in Jesus. I can only claim this by faith, for it is a free gift that I could never earn. My feeble attempts would only allow for my ego to get into the way—I would be proclaiming my achievements, all the while knowing that I had only failed in Your sight.

How can it be that You would love me this much? How can I understand Thy ways? You have answered my search by the voice of Your Spirit within me. I claim His presence, for to do otherwise is to promote the selfish interests of the old Adam nature that brought me into this world. Thank you, Lord, that I am not of this world. You have provided a citizenship in heaven, and I am seated with Christ at Your right hand (Ephesians 2:6).

Thank you, Jesus, for sanctifying me by the free gift of Your life. I stand in awe of You, and I am here today to follow You more dearly and more closely. Amen.












Day 4. He is our Wisdom

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom--- (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Yet we do not speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood (1 Corinthians 2:6-8a).

Father, I am amazed by Your wisdom. From it we exist, we move, and we proceed on a journey to your Holy City (Revelation 21). Although this world proclaims knowledge, it falls short of Your holy perspective. I know I am not here to store facts about You; instead I am here to know You. Only Your wisdom can succeed in this life. Thank you that Jesus becomes my wisdom. When I seek wisdom I know that I will be shown more of Jesus.

I trust You to make my ears attentive to Your wisdom. There are so many opportunities to listen to false voices, yet if I would just wait for Your voice I would find understanding. Help me see what You have already done—before I move brashly ahead. Help me turn my weaknesses over to You, for to do so will always allow your ways to proceed with Your strength.

Lord, I know that You will make my paths straight—I will not turn aside to the snares of this world. Today I ask that You show me Your way, Your truth, and Your life more fully, for they are all in Jesus. And I am in Jesus as well. Amen.

Additional reading. Proverbs, chapters 1-10.
 

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