Lenten Devotional, Day 10: Guardian God, Don't Go Fishin', I Plead Jesus!

Dear Saints,

I used to run the mile.  (I think my best was 5m—15s).  Nowadays the mile is more of a sprint, but we used to pace ourselves.  Was thinking of a connection to Lent.  We are finishing lap one.  How's the pace?  I think I started too fast.  Trying to ease off a tad.

If you want to comment on your experience, your insights, your questions, your pushbacks, I'll listen.  Bless.

Today's Scriptures: Psalm 121, Micah 7:18–20, Romans 3:21–31.

GUARDIAN GOD:

On Day 8 we bumped into the marvel of guardian angels (rf. Matthew 18:10).  Quick aside, some traditions pray to angels and/or order angels about.  I'll mix the metaphor, but you'll get the point: Be careful where angels fear to tread.  Also be careful where angels are concerned.  I counsel this clear Verse: "For HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11).

Guardian angels, no matter how cool, are a distant second to Guardian God.  Did you notice it in Psalm 121 today?  I see five "watches," two "helps," and a "keep" by God Himself!!!  That is not cool; that is sublime! 

DON'T GO FISHIN':

"You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19).  This Verse has given rise to a classic wordplay: Once God has thrown our sins into the sea, He puts up a sign that reads: No Fishin!

There is another beautiful wordplay with regard to fishin'.  Let me ask: What do you use as bait?  Angler pro tip: "Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (I Peter 5:7).

SAVED BY A TECHNICALITY:

Do you ever get upset when someone gets off on a technicality?  I try not to anymore, at least on one level.  I think of myself before the Court of Heaven: The Judge: Well, what do you have to say for yourself?  How do you plead?  Me: Your Honor, I have nothing to say for myself.  As to my plea: Jesus!  Salvation really works something like that.  If I started my defense with any form of I this, I that, I am...I'd be cooked (pun intended).  Though I've thought of this playful, alternate answer: Your Honor, I'm guilty as sin.  And by the way, I happen to know Your Son.

Did you read Roman 3:21–31 today?  Salvation: Jesus' righteousness not ours.  Jesus' sacrifice not ours.  Jesus "worked;" we got paid.  Jesus got justice; we got justification (just as if we never sinned or right standing before the Law).

I won't even tempt getting out over my skis today.  This Passage IS the Protestant Reformation, the making of countless Divinity dissertations, year-long sermon series, and a tonage of tomes.  Not today, I ain't bitin'.  It hurts to think (rf. Acts 26:24 ;).  Explain salvation, can't today, except to say: I plead Jesus!

The Only Best in/is Christ,

tIM