The Plumbline

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (I Peter 2:24-25 NLT) To think that Jesus 'personally carried' your sins and my sins in his body shouldn't just amaze us, it should also humble us. The reason he 'personally carried' our sins in his body wasn't just because there was no other sacrifice that could atone for our sins - it was motivated out of his intense love for his creation. Where did he carry those sins? In his body and right up onto that cross. He died, once for all, so that we may be dead to our sin. Without the cross, sin's influence would never have been broken. It took a perfect sacrifice to deal sin its final blow! Now we live for what is right. As we have been discussing for a few days now, we make different choices. We no longer ...

Flip Wilson used to quip, "You can't expect to hit the jackpot if you don't put a few nickels in the machine." This could be said of our 'investment' into our spiritual growth, as well. We need to 'put something into it' if we are to get as much out of it as Jesus intends! We aren't going to grow by osmosis or just by hearing a once-a-week sermon. We must put forth the effort to glean God's message to us from his Word, listen intently during times of worship and prayer, and then act upon what he brings to our attention.  You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (Matthew 22:37 NLT) Heart, soul, and mind all engaged - no part of us left out in this pursuit. Devotion to God does indeed engage one's mind, but it also engages one's heart. In turn, one's actions begin to be changed - little by little, until we see an overwhelming transformation in our character. The change we might just be lon...