“For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one—for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren.”
Hebrews 2:11
By nature we’re a black sheep, but when washed in His red Blood, we become a white sheep.
Every family has one. You know. . .that parent, child, sibling, relative, etc., who’s incorrigible. . .rebellious. . .hard-to-get-along-with. . .the “outcast,” etc. But, today’s Manna reminds us of the One—the Lord Jesus Christ—Who knows everything about us, but still loves us just the same and longs to transform us by His indwelling Life (Rom. 5:10).
Think about it:
We’re that black sheep—for “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “There’s none righteous; no, not one” (Rom. 3:10; Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-4). “But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. . .” (Is. 64:6a).
Yes, we’re all the “prodigal son” who’ve left Home for the bright city lights of the “far country and wasted our substance through riotous living” and ended up in satan’s pigsty of sin—hopeless and helpless (Lk. 15:11-16).
“But when we come to ourselves” (Lk. 15:17a). . .through the stirring of the Holy Spirit in our conscience. . .and say “I will arise and go to the Father and tell Him ‘I’ve sinned against Heaven and against You and no more worthy to be called Your son/daughter; make me as one of your slaves’” (Lk. 15:18-19). . .we discover that He “sees us afar off, has compassion on us, runs to meet us, hugs us and kisses us” (Lk. 15:20). . .even though we still smell like pig slop… and even though we’ve squandered away everything He gave us.
Oh what eyes and arms of Grace! Oh what a Heart of Mercy (Lam. 3:21-23)! Glory!!
And, it’s in His “Grip of Grace” that He says, “I’m not ashamed to call you My brother or sister. No, I know what you are, where you’ve been and what you’ve done; yet, I choose to overlook all of that as you come to Me in simple, childlike faith—entrusting your life to Me as we begin this Journey of Joy through life.
“Through My Blood your cleansed from your guilt (Heb. 9:14), ‘saved from God’s wrath’ (Rom. 5:9), adopted into My Father’s Family and pardoned from all sin. And, by daily ‘denying yourself” (Lk. 9:23-26) and being ‘crucified with Me’ (Gal. 2:20), you’ll be transformed from the inside out as the Holy Spirit works in you through the process of sanctification (Rom. 12:1-2).” Hallelujah!!
Can you see it, Pilgrim? Can you see it?
By all rights we deserve death and hell. From birth we should be relegated to the role of slaves for all eternity. Yet, the condescending Christ has chosen instead to say “From this point on I call you not servants (slaves)—for the servant knows not what his lord does; but I have called you friends—for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you” (Jn. 15:15). So, do not fear, weary one. The Savior will never be ashamed of you when you’re His; do not be ashamed of Him this day or make Him grieve by the way you live.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated January 10, 2011
