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\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine --
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October 16, 2007
/--- THE LIGHT EN ESPAÑOL! -----------------------------\
The wait for a Spanish language Heartlight is over!
Come enjoy Today's Verse in Spanish, with many more
features already in development. Heartlight is
now reaching even more people around the world with
the positive message of Jesus Christ. Praise God!
\----------------------- http://www.laluzdelalma.com ---/
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Color of Grace, by Alan Smith
Ralph Milton tells of a teacher who asked the kids one day, "If all the
bad children were painted red and all the good children were painted
green, which color would you be?"
One child answered the teacher: "Striped."
No matter what you may think of an exercise like this done with kids,
it's an important question for us as adults. Think about it. What color
would you be? Red? Green? Striped? It's a really tough question when
you have only two options and one of them isn't striped!
When we compare ourselves with God, we realize that we're not "good" by
divine standards -- as Jesus said, "There is no one good but God alone"
(Mark 10:18). Those of us who follow Christ know that we're far from
perfect. ("If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us" -- 1 John 1:8 TNIV.) The apostle Paul reminds us
that we've all fallen short of God's righteousness and holiness.
("There is no one who is righteous, not even one; ... since all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God" -- Romans 3:9-23.)
I once had an elder who got upset every time I referred to Christians
as "sinners," but even the apostle Paul said, "I am the chief of
sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). I know he was trying to emphasize that we've
all been forgiven, but the fact remains, I stumble and sin. So am I
good? Not when compared to God!
But, am I bad?
Hmm, that's an interesting question!
Hmm, that's an interesting question! The apostle John draws a definite
distinction between those who truly follow Jesus and those who continue
to live in (persist in) sin. "The one who practices sin is of the devil
.." (1 John 3:8 NASB) and they either deny their sin, claim their sin
doesn't matter, or that they have no guilt for their sin so they just
keep on with the lifestyle (1 John 1:5-10). Those following Jesus have
honestly come clean about their sinfulness and have been forgiven and
cleansed of all their sin (1 John 1:5-2:2). The focus of their lives is
not sin and ungodliness, but righteousness and holiness. Those
following Jesus are trying to put off the "old person" of their sinful
past along with its "former conduct" (Ephesians 4:22). While they
struggle with temptation, and sometimes even fail, are they bad?
No, I don't believe so. God forgives, cleanses, and restores them
because of what Jesus has done (1 John 5:7).
So which color would you be?
Were it not for a dear Friend who died in my stead, I would have no
choice but to paint myself red. But, because Jesus Christ took on the
color red -- in a very literal way -- and because of my obedient trust
in Him, He has transferred His righteousness to me, and I can proudly
wear the color green!
"God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21
TNIV).
---------
(c) 2007 Alan Smith <alansmith.servant@gmail.com>. Used by
permission. This devotional was reprinted from Thought for the
Day <http://www.TFTD-online.com>.
RELATED LINKS:
* The Truth in Broken Glass
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200411/20041111_brokenglass.html
* In An Anonymous Hotel Room
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200407/20040713_hotelroom.html
* Broken by Sin
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200504/20050402_brokenbysin.html
* Thought for the Day
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071016_colorofgrace.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, by Rob Bell
In this provocative, hopeful book, Bell asks what the church might look
like if today's believers fully embraced "the way" of love, peace,
sharing possessions, compassion, risk, forgiveness, and harmony.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?254
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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