A Life Worthy

Tag: justification

  • One-a-Day Friday, 2/28/14

    number 1…those he justified, he also glorified… (Romans 8:30c).

    Glorify: to cause to be or treat as being more splendid, excellent, etc., than would normally be considered.

    I love that definition.

    Paul tells us that God, having predestined, called, and justified us, now glorifies us.  He treats us as more than we are; he gives us more excellence than we deserve.

    You may not feel particularly glorified on this Friday morning, but it’s a done deal.

    You were predestined to be his.

    You are called to love him.

    You have been justified so that you can have fellowship with him.

    As you love and serve him, you bring him glory, and he graciously lets some of that glory slop back onto you.

    Revel in that fact today.  Drink it in.  Know that you are his, and he is yours, and he delights in you.

    Now and always.

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Thursday, 2/27/14

    number 1

     

    …those he called, he also justified… (Romans 8:30b).

    When I use the word justify in the context of my life, it usually means trying to get away with something, like taking a sick day when I’m not really sick, but justifying my actions by calling it a mental health day.

    Not that I ever do that.

    Ever.

    In theological terms, the word justify means to absolve of guilt, to declare someone innocent.  You see, Beloved, you were useless to God when you were in your sin.  Oh, sure, he could use you as a tool, like he used Pharaoh or Pilate or Judas, but that’s not what he’s looking for with you.  You he wants as a partner.  Junior partner, yes, but a willing partner all the same. In order to accomplish this, God needed you to be clean in his sight, free from the effects of sin.  He needed the penalty for your sins to be paid.  Since you couldn’t do that for yourself, he provided a substitute to pay for you.

    He provided his son.  But you know that part of the story.

    If you have accepted Christ, you are justified, clean in the eyes of God.

    Now he can use you.

    And he will.