We who looks at his own character and position from a legal point of view, will not only despair when he comes to the end of his reckoning, but if he be a wise man he will despair at the beginning;
for if we are to be judged on the footing of the law, there shall no
flesh living be justified. How blessed to know that we dwell in the
domains of grace and not of law!
When thinking of my state before God
the question is not, “Am I perfect in myself before the law?” but, “Am I
perfect in Christ Jesus?” That is a very different matter. We need not
enquire, “Am I without sin naturally?” but, “Have I been washed in the
fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness?” It is not “Am I in myself
well pleasing to God?” but it is “Am I accepted in the Beloved?” The
Christian views his evidences from the top of Sinai, and grows alarmed
concerning his salvation; it were better far if he read his title by the
light of Calvary. “Why,” saith he, “my faith has unbelief in it, it is
not able to save me.” Suppose he had considered the object of his faith instead of his faith, then he would have said, “There is no failure in him,
and therefore I am safe.”
He sighs over his hope: “Ah! my hope is
marred and dimmed by an anxious carefulness about present things; how
can I be accepted?” Had he regarded the ground of his hope, he
would have seen that the promise of God standeth sure, and that whatever
our doubts may be, the oath and promise never fail. Ah! believer, it is
safer always for you to be led of the Spirit into gospel liberty than
to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself at what Christ is rather than at what you
are. Satan will try to mar your peace by reminding you of your
sinfulness and imperfections: you can only meet his accusations by
faithfully adhering to the gospel and refusing to wear the yoke of
bondage.
This devotion was taken from The Apostle's Bible app.
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