Thursday April 14, 2011 1Sam 15, 16; 1 Chron 5, Matt. 1 "Saved-From Sin not In"

Thursday April 14, 2011

1Sam 15, 16; 1 Chron 5, Matt. 1
"Saved-From Sin not In"
S-Matt 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

O- Joseph was pledged to be married to Mary. Joseph was torn, because he discovered Mary was with child. To not disgrace or humiliate Mary, he wanted to divorce her from the promise of marriage. One night, an angel of the Lord appeared and said to Joseph, "do not be afraid to have Mary as your wife, because what she has conceived is from the Holy Spirit, she will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, he will save his people FROM their sins. Peace came over Joseph, and he knew he was to marry Mary, and father the son of God.

A- There is one piece that I picked up when reading it this time. Jesus was born to save us FROM sin, not to save us IN sin, because of the cross and the ultimate sacrifice of His life and dying on the cross. Saving us FROM our sin, saves us for Him, so that we can have eternal life, to not be of the world, but to be set aside for Him. If I ask for forgiveness but continue to sin, what is that? Isn't that taking for granted what was done on the cross for me. He wants us to walk away, not to be IN sin. Forgiveness for sin choices is always given, but guilt and shame stay with us when we continue to walk in our sin.

P-Father thank you for the ultimate sacrifice, and for sending your son to earth, to to save your people FROM sin. Please give us the strength and the love for what was done for us on the cross, to walk away from sin, and to live our lives holy for you. Open our eyes to the darkness in our own lives, and shine the light, where there needs to be light, and turn away from evil, so that we may have eternal life with you. Amen.