Justified

By Cheri Cowell

Recently several high profile court cases played themselves out in the media. Emotions were high on both sides, and depending on which media outlet you listened to, when the verdict was pronounced justice had prevailed or had been done a disservice. I wondered what it must feel like for the victims in each case, and what it must feel like to the accused when the jury finds them not guilty when they are, or guilty when they aren’t. It is difficult to imagine a verdict that is truly just.

According to Scripture, all of us are guilty of sin and deserve the penalty of eternal separation from God. The verdict is in. It reads, “guilty as charged,” but the judgment reads “justified.” In essence, all charges are removed from our records as if they were never there. Legally, it is as if we had never been accused. Our sins are forgiven; our slate wiped clean. Because of God’s holiness the Judge has pronounced us “guilty as charged,” yet the verdict is not the last word. Because of the Judge’s mercy and grace, He sent Jesus Christ to be the last word, and His word changes everything.

PRAYER: I praise You, God for the grace You’ve freely given that in spite of my obvious guilt You pronounced me justified. Help me to walk as one who was guilty but is now set free.

 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:23-24 NET.

Today’s devotion by Cheri Cowell, a student at Asbury Theological Seminary (Orlando), writes and speaks on the deep questions of faith. Her first book Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill) is being called a biblically-sound, no nonsense approach to making God-centered life choices. For comments or to inquire about her speaking schedule, visit www.DirectionAndDiscernment.com.