Reconciled and Enduring

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:9-11 (NIV)

During this Lenten season, we must remember the reconciliation of God. What a precious compensation! Nothing could be more desirable. Think about it. When we repent in dust and ashes, God graciously imputes his righteousness upon us, covering our sin with his blood. Now the miseries and afflictions of this life -- our dust and ashes -- are no longer tokens of the curse, but simply trials of our enduring faith.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)

Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Deliver us from the temptations of this world, which so easily entices us. Plant in us an enduring faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Be strong and courageous today with enduring faith,