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Wednesday, June 26, 2019

God’s Solution for My Failures

In review of Colossians 2:14 it reminds me that  “[God] canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (NCV).

Today’s verse from Colossians 2:14 reminds me that He canceled the record of the charges against me and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

The record that was canceled contained the legal demands of the Old Testament law. The law opposed me by its demands for payment for my sin. Although no one can be saved by merely keeping that record, the moral truths and principles in the Old Testament still teach and guide me today.

I can enjoy my new life in Christ because I have joined him in his death and resurrection. My evil desires, my bondage to sin, and my love of sin died with him. Now, joining him in his resurrection life, I may have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin. My debt for sin has been paid in full; my sins are swept away and forgotten by God; and I can be clean and new.

I blow it from time to time. I don’t have to live with guilt, but I do have to live with my mistakes.

The Bible never hides this truth. It is painfully honest about the failures of its heroes. God saved the world from flood through a man named Noah—who then got drunk, naked, and blew it all. Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea and into freedom,yet his anger kept him out of the Promised Land. King David was a man after God’s heart but also had an affair and murdered the woman’s husband so he wouldn’t be discovered.

What I’m learning is that God realizes my frailty. If he only used perfect people, the Bible would be a pretty short book. But, God has a solution for my failures: grace.

The Bible says, “[God] canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NCV).

When I look at all those failures in the Bible, I get a clear picture. Just like those heroes of the Bible, I am a trophy of God’s grace. My primary witness to the world around me isn’t all the great things I do for God. It’s how I handle mistakes I’ve made. Do I mope or do I revel in the grace of God?

People want to meet a God who turns failures into triumphs. People want to meet a God who can transform the lives of broken people.

The amazing part of God’s grace isn’t just his power to forgive. It’s also the strength he gives me when I start over.

In summary, he canceled the record of charges against me. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. My new life in Christ comes because I joined him in his death and resurrection. By joining him in his resurrection life, I now have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin. My debt for sin has been paid in full. God realizes my frailty and has a solution for my failures. It's called grace. My primary witness to the world around me isn't all the great things I do for God. It's how I handle mistakes I've made by reveling in the grace of God. I need to help others meet a God who can turn failures into triumph, and can transform the lives of those who are broken. The amazing part of God's grace isn't just his power to forgive, but the strength he gives to start over. 

God I think you for your solution to my failures. Today I want to learn to live and help others see the grace you provide. Thank you for the new starts you give each day. Today I ask you for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my task and responsibilities, my leadership and my interaction with others. I pray this through you Son Jesus name, amen.

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