July 15

With one perfect offering, Jesus has perfected forever those who are being made holy”, Hebrews 10:14

How weary we can become in the pursuit of perfection, hoping somehow that if we get everything exactly right then nothing will go terribly wrong. And if we manage not to do anything wrong, then maybe everything will finally turn out right! However, in and of our own strength, no matter how sincere the attempts or how deep the desire, perfection is simply not something we can obtain. Or should even try for!
 
 We are those wonderfully broken and imperfect people, in desperate need of saving and salvation, obtained only through the One, Christ Jesus, Who is perfect in every way! God does not desire our sacrifices—our works, striving, even the loss of our own soul trying to figure out how to please Him by never making a mistake or messing up.
 
Rather He desires that we put our hand in the hand of Jesus, and offer Him our hearts and lives, for Jesus Himself is our perfection. We are made whole and complete in Him. His sacrifice becomes our salvation; His righteousness, imparted as a free gift, becomes our saving grace.
 
You are being made, step-by-step and day-by-day, into the true nature and likeness of your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who loves you so. He sees you, lovely one, tucked up safely in Jesus—loved as Jesus is loved—faultless and flawless in the most extraordinarily beautiful ways!
 
This is your inheritance, precious one. The immense gift, through Jesus our Lord, of God’s redeeming grace.

Prayer:
 
Jesus, I thank You with all of my heart for your sacrificial love that has allowed for all of my sin and sorrow to be swallowed up in the wonder of Your redeeming love and saving grace.
 
You gave Your life for mine—traded Your sinless life as a sacrifice for me, so that I could be forever connected to the heart of the Father, safe in His arms, and free.
 
I receive this life-giving, life-saving, gift today, Jesus. And though it is too marvellous for me to understand the wonder of it all, I believe today Lord, in all that You have done, and I receive.
 
With a grateful heart I pray, for myself, and for my family, let Your resurrection life visit us all today, releasing us to be all You died for Jesus, and created us to be.
 
In Your Holy Name I pray.