WE SHOULD BE OVERJOYED

We should be overjoyed! Why do I say that? Because not only have we been saved from the penalty of sin, we have received the righteousness of Christ. But often we forget this fact and we walk around in a state of dread and confusion. Secretly we say to ourselves, "I'm no good." I guess you could say that we concentrate on the one chink in our armor and allow this to color our whole existence. Paul called it a "THORN." It is a thing we cannot change. It greets us each day and reminds us of its presence. And if we are not careful, we will concentrate on this one negative aspect to the point that our creative juices to do well and to do God's will no longer flow. So what can we do when Satan reminds us of what is absolutely true? How about these scriptures from Romans? Romans 3: 21-24 says: Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The law and the prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. So when God looks at us who have accepted Christ he does not see sinful and wretched human beings, dirty and tattered with sin, he sees the "Righteousness of Christ." This is incredible news my friends. This is what we call "IMPUTATION", or the crediting of our accounts. As one scholar put it, imagine that you have huge debts and a zero bank account balance. All of sudden someone cancels all of the debt and puts a large sum of money in your account. This is exactly what Christ does for us. He not only declares us not guilty, but and also gives us his clothing of righteousness.

This of course reminds me of the hymn "Blessed Assurance". "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine, Oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born in His spirit, washed in His blood." So with this good news there's no need to feel lost, or confused or defeated. Christ has already won the victory. And when we believe in him, we have the victory as well. This is summed up by a little card my mom gave me years ago to put in my wallet. She told me "Every now and then take it out and read it." It says:

COUNT your blessing instead of your crossed,

COUNT your gains instead of your losses,

COUNT your joys instead of your woes,

COUNT your friends instead of your foes,

COUNT your smiles instead of your tears,

COUNT your courage instead of your fears,

COUNT your full years instead of your lean,

COUNT your kind deeds instead of your mean,

COUNT your health instead of your wealth . . .

COUNT ON GOD instead of yourself.

- In His Service, Ken