Our Devotion for today is taken from: Amazing Grace Devotions for Lent by Michael Hoy.
24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24 NRSV
JUSTIFYING GRACE
We are like defendants on trial for our sinfulness, and the evidence is overwhelming – even damning. We have no credible defense of our own. Yet the grace of Christ justifies us. Jesus Christ is in our corner as our legal defense. He makes the irrefutable case for our forgiveness as his final and just verdict for us and for our vindication. And for that verdict, he himself is ready and willing to pay the price for our redemption.
Our faith grasps this promise of grace in Christ for the good news that it is. We can now walk as the ransomed of the Lord. Through Christ’s redemption, we have a profoundly new relationship as God’s own dear children. There is no legal challenge that can snatch us away from God’s hand. We are justified by his grace as a gift.
Friends,
One of the unique characteristics of Methodism is our understanding of grace. We are grateful for the prevenient (pre-existing) grace of God, within each of us from the moment we are born, beckoning us toward relationship with God. It is because of God’s pre-existing grace that we baptized infants, knowing that God is already at work within them. We celebrate the sanctifying grace of God which encourages us to identify those internals obstacles that hinder us from aligning our lives with God’s will. Through God’s sanctifying grace we are equipped to fully commit to the life-long process of deepening our relationship with God. We also recognize the justifying grace of God, which assures us that the moment we said yes to God, God said yes to us. God’s justifying grace offers us internal peace that lay the foundation for our outward changes. As we continue through this Lenten season, be encouraged that God honors the steps we make to live in reverent devotion to our risen redeemer.
-Pastor Anthony
Prayer
Father, for the sake of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, keep us in your love and grace as those who are now justified, redeemed and righteous in your sight. Amen.
-Michael Hoy