S)"4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, 'Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.' 5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm"
Acts 28:4-6 (NASB)
O) This attitude mirrors one of the funny things I see in the world today. People want justice, at least the way they see justice happening. The word "justice" there is used as a personification, that of an actual goddess. In today's world of widespread atheism, even still people want justice, they just want it from a faceless, nameless god that they're calling karma, or the universe, or the cosmos - ironic, since the ancient gods were, in fact, named for the cosmos... Anyway, what we see at work with God is something else, though. While it's true that a man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7), that is also outside the grace of God. When a person is walking in repentance, and within the grace of God, then they are also walking in the mercy of God. Paul admitted guilt in the killing of Christians (Acts 26:10), as these natives suspected, and yet he was unharmed by the snake. This is because God creates us anew, when we accept His mercy through grace by the sacrifice of His Son, in our place.
A) I hope I'm never bit by a snake, but I also hope it doesn't take a snake bite to remind me that I'm a new creation. My past is passed, in Jesus. I know that my mistakes can still carry consequences, but God isn't looking to punish me for mistakes that He's already forgiven. I cannot allow myself a burden of guilt, when God declares me guiltless. Otherwise, I make God out to be a liar, or at the very best, mistaken.
P) Father, Your grace is sufficient for me. Thank You for forgiveness and the newness of creation in me, when You forgave me and called me Your son. Holy Spirit, remind me of this Scripture often, that I am not awaiting punishment from the Father. In grace and freedom I will strive to maintain the righteousness that has been given to me and if, or when, I make mistakes, I will repent and move on. I will not allow the enemy to keep me immobilized by guilt. Thank You for calling me guiltless. Help me remember and protect that. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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