Day 29 "The Settling of Accounts"

Rather than our calendar year being 365 days long, it is actually 365.242 days. Every fourth year an extra day is added to the calendar year to make up for the fractional days set aside previously. You can thank Julius Caesar who back in 45 B.C. had the necessary changes made to simplify and stabilize all the rest of the calendar days. Without it, there would always be the need to make it right again at some point.

As I think about today being that special day needed to recalibrate our system of time, my thoughts also think of the one, Jesus Christ, who came to recalibrate and settle our unbalanced account of sin with God, the sin which was keeping us separated from God and preventing us from having a personal relationship with him.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sin, in which you used to live

when you followed the ways of this worlds and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the

spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among

them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and

thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." Ephesians 2:1-3

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23

"They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because

of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts." Ephesians 4:18

"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." Psalm 51:3

"So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." Romans 14:12

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid

bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13

In this world, where we already struggle so much with trying to be loved and accepted by one another and trying to find ourselves, who we are and what we are meant to be, it adds another level of fear and anxiety to know that some day we will stand before God and give an account for our lives. Inevitably, there will come a day of judgement where all accounts will be settled for the balances of sin in our lives. So, then, how gratifying and joyous to our souls would it be to come to understand and believe that someone has already settled all of our accounts with God on our behalf? To hear that we have been exonerated and given a full pardon for all of our sins- past, present, and future? This is exactly what the Gospel of Grace is saying about Jesus. Jesus Christ came to die upon the cross, to be the atoning sacrificial lamb for you and I. Not just to cover us for a temporary period of time, but for all eternity!

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ." Romans 8:1

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness from sins."

Ephesians 1:7

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with

Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions-" Ephesians 2:4

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and

confidence." Ephesians 3:12

"just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the

ministry of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:18

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the

kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 1:13

"Let us approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive

mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

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Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." It only makes sense, that if Jesus was the provision for all of our sins, then he be the only path through which forgiveness and reconciliation with God can be obtained.

In Christ, your account with God is complete paid!

Live like you know you are loved and that you have been set free. See you tomorrow...