February 13 — God Reconciled the World

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

 | Hope for Today Archive | Sign Up for Our Resources | 

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21

It highly concerns believers who desire to keep a constant peace in their bosoms — to be ever sensible of their spiritual poverty and to feed and rest wholly on the all-sufficient atonement and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Disquiet of mind and spiritual slothfulness, often proceed from self-righteousness and not looking to Christ for everything — but trusting secretly to something in ourselves. Salvation and all the means of obtaining it, are to be sought for in Christ. None other can supply our needs or furnish to the believer that which he needs.

To Him, therefore, let us apply, and in Him let us confide; thus shall we become spiritual and happy, and thus will He receive from us the tribute which He deserves from all His Church.

Lord, help me to believe that You will not impute my trespasses to me, because You have imputed them to Jesus and punished them in His body on the tree. O, Jesus, I would daily, yes hourly, look to You as made sin for me — that I may be made the righteousness of God in You!

My Savior’s pierced side
Poured out a double flood;
By water we are purified,
And pardoned by the blood.

There, on the cursed tree,
In dying pangs He lies,
Fulfills His Father’s great decree
And all our need supplies.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)