... the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon Me.

"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom..." Matthew 27:51

This week has been a week of remembrance and thankfulness as I have dwelt much on the love of God towards us His people. 

Do you ever read a phrase or verse from the WORD that has deep impact on you... so much so that you meditate and ponder over it for a long time?

My heart was touched when I thought upon the Father removing all my offences and placing them upon the Lord Jesus... paying my debt. The thought wasn't anything new... but I found myself with renewed adoration for my Heavenly Father. 

Oh, the love of God... ... renting the veil of the temple in two... granting us access to the very presence of God, the Holy of Holies through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isn't it marvelous? 

Indeed it is overwhelming...  to think that God opened a way through the Lord Jesus Christ... the shedding of His precious Son's blood,

... once and for all.

"But now in Christ Jesus

 ye who sometimes were far off 

are made nigh by the blood of Christ." 

Ephesians 2:13

The Lord Jesus smitten in my stead. He pleased not Himself, but took my reproaches! 

"For even Christ pleased not himself; 

but, as it is written, 

The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." 

Romans 15:3

I find myself without excuse when faced with thoughts of hurt or self-pity... there is no place for such thoughts when Christ has suffered in our stead.

No place to please ourselves...

Precious Father, With thankfulness we bow before your presence and acknowledge your kindness towards us. Thank you for removing the veil from us through the blood of our  Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to walk in obedience to your calling of us as children of Light and may all that we do and say be for your glory and not ours

May you be encouraged today to walk humbly before our Heavenly Father.

~Ellie

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. " 1 Corinthians 15:58

... Having FORGIVEN you ALL trespasses.

" Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to HIS cross." Colossians 2:14

Do you ever find yourself unworthy of God's love? Do you ever see yourself a sinner?  

Sometimes our sin is so evident... that we can see our wickedness quite plainly... no one has to tell us we've wronged God in our actions. 

And yet, there are times when we may be unaware of our sin. It may be that we've compromised so much that we are immune to it.... we don't see our proud look, or we may not be aware of the words that come out of our mouths. Sometimes we may even fall prey to doing something that makes "life" easier for us by being dishonest in one form or another.

The truth is that we are all sinners. All of us have sinned. We all have to fight against the flesh. 

And yet, had it not been for God's precious love, we would all have remained dead in our sins. 

" And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, 

hath He quickened together with HIM, 

having forgiven you all trespasses." 

Col 2:13

So I found myself one afternoon reading through Colossians... what joy, what comfort to know I've been forgiven!  

The Lord Jesus Christ - Colossians 2: 13,14,15 

... forgave all my trespasses,

... blotted out the ordinances that was against me, 

... took all my sins out of the way,

... and nailed  them to His cross,

... while making a show of them openly,

... and triumphing over them in it.

Oh, how I should praise Him! I am humbled that Christ Jesus would die for me, have mercy and remember my sins no more. What a Saviour!

" For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, 

and their sins and their iniquities 

will I remember no more." 

Hebrews 8:12

Holy Father, Thank you for your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. How thankful we are that we have been forgiven of our trespasses and that the Lord Jesus has abolished in His flesh the enmity, bringing peace to us. 

May you be encouraged today to thank God for His goodness to you... in offering forgiveness of sins through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

~Ellie

"Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty."

 "And the Lord hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

Sometimes I find myself so unworthy of God's love towards me... and wonder " how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean ". And yet I marvel at God's perfect redemption, that He would send His only begotten Son to pay the price required to make me clean, justified and forgiven of all debt.

So  this morning, my thoughts were on the death and suffering of the Lord Jesus... and His redemptive work on my behalf.

Isaiah 53:4,5,6

"Surely HE hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem HIM stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 But HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes we are healed.

 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all."

How thankful I am for the beauty of the Lord Jesus, seen in the eyes of the Father... for He alone was worthy to become the propitiation of our sins. And in His beauty, love was demonstrated ... in all obedience to the Father, in granting us pardon, and in making intersession for us transgressors. 

What blessed hope and reason to rejoice! The Lord's suffering was not in vain... for eternal life was granted towards us sinners.

One day, our eyes too, shall behold the King in all His splendor and beauty. 

"... for thou wast slain, 

and hast redeemed us to God 

by thy blood 

out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."

 Revelation 5:9

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 

to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, 

and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." 

Revelation 5:12

Father, how can we thank you for the  pardon offered through the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect lamb without spot or blemish? Teach us to put away all pride and no longer live for ourselves. May the death of the Lord Jesus Christ be manifested in our lives today. Help us to magnify the ONE who is worthy of all honor and praise.

" Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, 

that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." 

2 Corinthians 4:10

May you be reminded today of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection, bringing us eternal salvation.

~Ellie