No More ‘Kick Me’

I read daily from a variety of authors, I adore Charles Spurgeon, Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, Ann Spangler just to name a few. Of recent, I have begun going through the Psalms on a daily basis, reading “This Year, The Psalms” by Jim Kutnow.

This week we are in Psalm 49, “No man cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave.” (vss 7-9) In Mr Kutnow’s expository notes, he took us to Paul’s strong statement of being RANSOMED: “God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God“ (2 Cor. 5:21, emphasis mine) Mr Kutnow goes on to say, “So worthy in God’s sight is Christ’s atoning work that it is sufficient to pay the sin debt of every human being who has ever lived or whoever will live. (Inserting a hardy “AMEN!”) However, only those who personally trust in Christ’s atoning work have that value applied to themselves.” I have to admit, I had to stop and laugh (kinda) at the imagery it yelled (for me) I pictured an exchange of ‘signs’ (if you will) We are no longer identified with a ‘Kick Me’ or ‘Loser’ or ‘Condemned’ on our back. NO. We now have a new sign ‘applied’ to us, JESUS!

And those of us who mucked things up pretty bad, we hang our head and with a shrug we shuffle off onto the sidelines. WAIT. Stop. Turn around.  Your relationship with God intact, but you may have injured your fellowship with Him,  BUT… “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9  Fellowship restored.  Most use this verse as an evangelistic tool, however, John wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you…” (v5) Who are the ‘you?’ Christians.  Jesus followers.  They (we) have already took the steps into the God arena.

So I encourage us, to stand tall and wear Christ’s applied atoning work.  He is the answer for Psalm 49, He IS enough!

If need be, seek out the Faithful One, come in agreement with Him (confess) and re-adjust your sign.

Identified as one of His.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)