Daily Devotional: Friday, June 4

Speaker: Dave Nelson

Theme: Judging Others

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by Tim Hughes; The Time Has Come by Hillsong; Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin; The Stand by Hillsong.

READ:  John 5:16-30

THINK:  Last month I appeared in traffic court.  No surprise to those of you who read yesterday's E-Devo.  I am not a lawyer, I was the accused law breaker.

As I sat in the courtroom awaiting the arrival of the most honorable Judge my mind wandered to a time in the future when I will sit before the throne of God.  There were similarities and differences.  The room was quiet.  Only a few of us were present.  We sat in anticipation of our judgment.  Next to me sat a guy who played with his phone.  I sat straight and tall trying to act nonchalant and legal like.  Another gentleman played with his car keys.  My mind returned to the reason I was sitting in the courtroom.  I was accused of traveling over the speed limit.

Suddenly the door opened, a clerk announced the eminent arrival of the Judge and commanded us to all rise.  Then my imagination led me to ask, what if it were Jesus being escorted to the judgment throne?  I believe all present would have been compelled to fall to our knees.  There will come a day when "we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ." (2 Cor. 5:10 NIV)

I had notes and a well rehearsed defense statement to plead for mercy before the traffic court judge.

What will be our defense as we are led before the throne of God?

Jesus, Himself is our Advocate, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God. Who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:17-21 NIV)

My accuser chose not to stand before the Judge that day in court, just as our Accuser will not be able to stand before our Judge on That Day.  My heart was filled with relief and hope as I heard the Judge say, "Your accuser is not present so the case against you is dropped.  You are free to leave.  There will be no record of this charge against you."

DO:  Remember a time when the Accuser (Satan) tried to make you feel guilty and condemned.  Imagine yourself standing before the throne of God.  Jesus, your Advocate is standing with you.  God looks at you through the blood of Jesus and announces that you are free from the wages of sin.  Praise God with me for His grace and mercy in choosing to forgive us.

PRAYER:  Dear Heavenly Father, it is with a heart full of gratitude that I come before you today. May I sense delight knowing that you love me and see me not as a sinner, but saved by the life and death of your precious Son.  Overwhelm me with the reality of how deeply you care for me.   AMEN

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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