FROM THE KEYBOARD

The outworking of faith in Christ alone is knowing our life is not our own. And since we were bought with a price, it's an honor to allow God to spend our life for His glory and cause. "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8).

You can know God's love is complete, not because you saw the purchase, but because you have the receipt. And the receipt says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21). You see, God debited His own account and credited our account!

Question to prayerfully consider: If you were placed on trial for your faith, would they have enough evidence to put you away? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

God won't still the storm around us until we first allow Him to still the storm within us. And to be honest, that's why He allows trials to touch us, so that we would get in touch with Him. Therefore, let us "count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Those who know God's love are those who show God's love. Either by way of a joyful smile or by the way we endure through a trial, both are evidence that our hearts have experienced revival. "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (I John 3:16).

Know this, nothing we confess can make Jesus love us less. How so? Because there's nothing that could be uncovered about us that isn't already covered by the cross. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).