2015-06-18 - For My Sake

Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

I've been missing something important for a little while. I get this refresher periodically. God saves His children from the slave market of sin, from eternal punishment separated from Himself, and more. It is easy to say He did it because the Lord loves us and that is not incorrect. But at the same time it is not complete.

It is easy to believe the work of salvation was accomplished for our sakes. Earlier this week I was reminded in Isaiah 43:25 that "am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins" (emphasis mine). There are six instances in the NASB book of Isaiah alone where God indicates the things that He accomplishes are for His sake.

It may be argued that his is directed to Israel. Paul tells us that the church is a wild olive graphed into the tree that is Israel. (Romans 11:17) God's grace is the same. We were created to have fellowship with God. In Genesis God spent time with Adam and Even in the Garden regularly and walked with them.

The Psalmist explains that God leads and guides us in order to protect His name. As believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior we represent Him and other believers by our actions. For His sake we were created, and we are saved from the penalty of sin, and we are lead and guided all for Him and His name's sake.

In all of this we are loved by God as His creation, worth saving even when we turned our backs on Him, sending the Son to die and the Holy Spirit to live within us and walk along side us along the narrow road. Walk that road for Him.

Selah.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.peacewithgod.net

All verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.