Thursday, April 7, 2011

Joseph Prince's Devotional Today


      I like to read Joseph Prince because he reminds me that I can't earn God's approval.  I can't work my way into Heaven.  There's nothing I can do on my own to get there.  It doesn't matter how good I try to be, or what great deeds I do for others.  Nothing will get me to Heaven but recognizing and believing that Jesus has already "bought my ticket" through His death on the cross.  By becoming a sacrifice for my sins He became my Savior.  Believing and accepting this is the only way I will get into Heaven.  Since I have given my life to Him, the Father sees only Jesus when He looks at me.  My part in all this is to rest in that fact and trust that He is, and always will be, my advocate before the Father.


Your Advocate Always Wins Your Case
1 John 2:1
1
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

      If you want a glimpse of some real-life celestial drama, picture this: God the Father sits as Judge of the universe with Jesus Christ at His right hand, who is not only your High Priest, but also your Advocate.
      When your accuser, the devil, comes along and says, “You have done this wrong and you have not done that right,” Jesus says, “Father, the devil is right, but My blood has paid for what the devil is accusing him of.”
       Then the devil adds, “You have also not been reading the Bible or praying enough. And this morning, you told a lie.”
       Again, Jesus will say, “Father, the devil has indeed reported correctly, but My blood has paid for all these failures.”
       God the Father will then slam the gavel on the sound block and say, “Case dismissed! Next!”
        You need to understand that God can justly declare you innocent and completely righteous because Jesus took your place at the cross, and shed His blood to pay for your sins and condemnation. (2 Corinthians 5:21) God is simply being faithful and just to what Christ has done.
        When Jesus rose from the grave, He rose as your Advocate, your lawyer. But unlike most earthly lawyers who take on cases because it serves their interests and wallets, He is a lawyer who is personally interested in your happiness and well-being. Unlike earthly lawyers who are not caught up in the feelings and sufferings of their clients, Jesus went through great sufferings for you and paid with His own life so that you can receive all the blessings of God.
       As your Advocate today, Jesus ensures that what He died and suffered to give you, you get! In heaven today, He defends and represents you to ensure that the healing, wholeness, protection and other blessings that He died to give you are enforced in your life. Beloved, have confidence in and rest in the ability of your Advocate!

http://www.josephprince.org/

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

do you have a section where we could leave prayer requests? (anonymous or otherwise?)

Country Girl said...

I will have to think about how that could be accomplished. A very good idea, though. I will check into it.