[DEVOTIONAL] Pst Chris Oyakhilome – Beyond Reproach

[24th Feb, 2018]

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight (Colossians 1:21-22).

How inspiring and comforting this is! God chose you before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him in love, and predestined you to be accepted in His presence (Ephesians 1:6). Long before He laid the foundations of the earth, He had you in mind. He knew you, accepted you and settled on you to be the focus and object of His love.

This had nothing to do with your good works; it’s purely the result of His grace. He reconciled you to Himself, justified you and made you righteous. Now you’re beyond reproach, beyond condemnation. There’s no judgement against you; you’re free from all accusations: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1). Following the sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf, sin and its consequences shall not have dominion over you. You’re free to serve the Lord and live for Him, in righteousness and true holiness.

Someone might ask, “How about when I do something wrong, am I still righteous, holy, blameless and irreproachable?” Yes, you are! First, understand that Christ is your redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30), meaning that He’s your riddance. In other words, He rids you of trouble and takes responsibility for your faults.

Secondly, you aren’t holy or righteous because of your actions, but because you live in the presence of God, and have His nature of righteousness. He gave you His righteousness as a gift (Romans 5:17); therefore, you have right standing with Him. Moreover, His presence in you sanctifies; that is, makes you holy.

This is what gives us boldness and confidence to pray and expect answers. It’s the reason we can speak and expect things to turn out the way we said they should, because we have a right of hearing in His presence. He qualified us to live in His presence, and become partakers of the divine nature, associates of the Godkind. Blessed be God!

PRAYER
Blessed Father, I thank you for your love and your grace, and for the gift of righteousness, which gives me boldness and right standing in your presence. What joy thrills my soul to know that I now stand justified in your presence, holy, acceptable, and beyond reproach, because Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins. Now, I reign and rule with Him forever, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 6:30-56, Leviticus 25
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 21:10-17, Psalm 38-39