WHERE WE HAVE COME

'For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:18-24, NASB )

Devotion 9 of 13 GOD, THE JUDGE OF ALL

Not only are we come to the holy angels, and to the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, we are come to the living God Himself. What is more, we "ARE come" to Him in a state of reconciliation! Though formerly "enemies" in our "mind by wicked works" (Col 1:21), we have been "justified from all things" (Acts 13:39). Now we may stand confidently before "God the Judge!" Since "there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1), we have nothing to fear from the "Judge of all." What a marvelous thing has occurred within us! The closer we get to God, the closer we are to Help! He is, after all "a very present Help in trouble" (Psa 46:1). Having sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts, we have been enabled to joyfully cry "Abba, Father" (Gal 4:6). We not only are dependent upon our God, we know that we are, and delight in the circumstance. Now, in a state of reconciliation, God is opposed to our enemies rather than to us. Those who "are come . . . to God the Judge" speak confidently of His nearness. "He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up" (Isa 50:8-9). No other religion in the world allows its constituents to speak confidently in the presence of their god. Only those fully exonerated by the grace of God may do this--and that includes everyone in the Son. In coming to "God the Judge," we come to the "throne of all grace" (Heb 4:16). Here is the Source of every "good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17). The advantage of being in His hand is summed up by the Lord Jesus Christ; "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one" (John 10:29-30). Here, in the Father's hand, adversaries, though many, become inferior. We have come to their Judge as well as our own. PRAYER POINT: Father, how precious it is to me that I can stand before you with confidence, knowing I have been justified in Christ Jesus. Now Your judgment is AGAINST everything that is against me, and it is FOR everything that is to my advantage. Thank you for this joyful circumstance, in Jesus' name!

-- TOMORROW: SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT --