This morning, the Lord corrected me for wrong behavior I’ve been harboring. I was genuinely sorry, so I asked for forgiveness and His help moving forward. Still, each time I remembered His correction, my heart was gripped with a fear of His displeasure. By now, I’ve learned enough to know that this is not His will for me. So, sitting in the middle of a dermatologist waiting room, I prayed, and the Lord dropped “Romans 5” in my heart.
Opening my Bible app on my phone, I read the Amplified version of verse 1:
“Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).”
Romans 5:1 (AMP)
The text nearly jumped at me—LET US GRASP THE FACT. If I hadn’t read the Amplified, I would have missed the beauty of this verse. It was like God was giving me the pep talk I needed. “Yes, Kaime, I corrected you, because your behavior needed to change. BUT—even in the midst of it, GRASP THE FACT that you have peace with Me and the joy of being reconciled to Me because of Jesus.”
I nearly bawled right there in that quiet waiting room filled with strangers. Even when I mess up, even when my behavior needs correcting, and even when the Lord chastises me for wrongdoing, I can still enjoy peace with God through Jesus. I don’t have to tuck my tail, nor should I shrink away from Him, fearing His wrath or vague displeasure. Instead, my faith in Him grants me unlimited access into His Presence, where I stand firmly, safely, and securely in a remarkable state of grace.
“Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand.”
Romans 5:2 (AMP)
Y’all, this kind of goodness does not register with my brain—it makes no sense! But, it’s the Truth nonetheless. So, let’s simply believe it and receive it like a little child. In other words, LET US GRASP THE FACT!
