Be encouraged.
A lot can happen in the last few days of the year.
He doesn’t need time to get things done. But He takes time so that we can be part of the process. So that we can mature enough to handle the blessing He wants to give us. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Maybe this is taking a long time because it’s not all about you. Maybe your dream-come-true is meant to lead others to repentance.
Repentance from sin is an invitation to holiness. And in holiness lives our Hope. Holiness is not just about purity. It’s about being set apart from the rest of the world, purified – yes – by the blood of Holiness Himself. So it is written, “Be holy, as I am holy.” And if we are set apart, that means we are different.
So, to my friend who has waited a long time. Who started the year in faith – perhaps even faith renewed. And whose faith has dwindled as each of the last 360 days have passed.
To myself.
Let me remind you now that you are holy because He is holy.
You are set apart.
Repentance from sin is an invitation to holiness.
And in holiness lives our Hope.
Why on earth would a miracle-working God choose to write your story with the same old boring strokes that humanity (even your wild-yet-still-human imagination) conjures up?
You can’t be like them when you’re called to be set apart from them.
He is still working out the miracle. He didn’t quit. Don’t you quit either. I promise you – there is still time.
There’s one verse in Romans 8 that has been rattling around in my head all week. I was planning on just sharing that one verse with you today, but you know how I feel about putting scripture in its proper context. So I can’t stop with one verse. And I’m not sorry about that. But take a look at this passage from Romans 8 in the NIV:
He is still working out the miracle. He didn’t quit. Don’t you quit either.
I promise – there is still time.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only acceptable offering to atone for our sin was that of a perfect, spotless Lamb. One that was set apart. Holy.
One who went willingly to the slaughter.
My friend, as we take in the last five days of 2023, hold tightly to the truth in this passage.
God is for you.
He gave His son up for you – how will He not also graciously give us all things?
Consider this – truly ponder this: Holiness descended from heaven to earth and lived in humility among sinners. Jesus even submitted Himself to the authority of flawed human parents. We think we know better – He really did know better!
But that submission was nothing compared to the submission to death on a cross. The only acceptable offering to atone for our sin was that of a perfect, spotless Lamb. One that was set apart. One that was holy. And one who went willingly to the slaughter.
We can have hope now because of what He did then.
Ours is the way of holiness.
Be holy, for He, our hope, is holy.
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