Some people know what it is like to have a court case looming in their future. The dread, worry and anxiety that comes with an impeding court date is quite daunting. Each one of us has a court date with God. The writer of the Bible book named Hebrews explains it this way, "And just as it is appointed for people to die once—after this, there will be judgment—". God is going to render judgment on our lives. Romans 5:1 gives everyone that has placed their faith in Jesus a life-changing fact. Justice has been rendered thanks to Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection. We have two choices, we can choose to pay the fine for our sin, which is death and eternal separation from God; or we can accept Jesus as our substitute. You are reading this right, Jesus paid the fine for us because of His sinlessness and God is willing to accept Jesus' life as if it were ours. Place your faith in Jesus' and when God looks at your life He will see the holiness of Jesus.

Peace with God comes through faith in Jesus. Have you worried about your relationship with God lately? Take time to thank Him for the life of Jesus and ask Him to remind you that peace with Him comes through Jesus and not good works.

One of the hardest principles of following Jesus is believing He is as faithful and grace-giving as the Bible assures us He is. In relationships, school, jobs and with sports you get back what you give. Study hard and you get a good grade, work hard and you get a raise or become captain of the team, treat your friend or spouse well and you get back what give out. This is not so with God. All of us deserve judgement, yet He will give us grace when we least deserve it. Romans 5:8 reminds us, "But God proves his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinning and rebelling against God, Christ died for us." If He loved us enough to die in our place while we were still living for ourselves and disregarding Him, what will He do for us now that we are part of the family of God? You have access to the grace of God whenever and however you need it. Trust Jesus will never lie to you and believe His grace is yours for the asking.

Peace with God simple, confess your known sins to Him and ask Him for healthy serving of grace to cover your sin.

Did you miss it yesterday? "The "hope of glory" is speaking of heaven. In Christ we have the "hope of heaven." Hope in the Bible isn't like the hope we have today. Some people hope they when the lottery, hope they get a raise or hope they have enough to retire. When the Bible speaks of hope, it is means a guarantee of what is assured. Heaven is coming for everyone that has faith in the FINISHED work of Jesus. What will heaven be like? Let me quote a man that has been there. John, the follower Jesus "loved" was transported there so he could tell us. This is what he has to say about heaven, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” So many people fixate on Christ wiping away the tears from ours and the elimination of death, sickness and sorrow. All of this is enough to make us ready to go now, but I love the last sentence: “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Christ is coming, and when His does, He will be all we need to make eternity surpass anything we could ever imagine.

Take a moment to pray and thank God for the part of heaven you are most looking forward to experiencing.

It's okay to be honest with God, He knows anyway right. Who are you most wanting to see in heaven besides Jesus?

The writer of Romans, Paul, was very familiar with pain and suffering. Read his story penned by his own hand: "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?- 2 Corinthians 6." This man knew pain and suffering and was still able to write this, "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." The challenge today is to answer whether you are called according to God's purpose. Are you serious about accepting what comes your way believing it is from God and will be used to benefit you in the long run? Will you live in the light of eternity rather than for the world and the here and now?

God can and will use every challenging event in your life to your benefit. Ask Him to begin showing you how the most challenging part of your life is used to bring Him glory and will make you the person He desires you to be.

Jesus, just at the right time, came and died for me and for you. Since He did this on our behalf, we have escaped the wrath of God. We are exposed daily with the message God loves everyone and He will overlook everything. I would love to believe this message if I did not have a copy of the Bible. The Bible says God is exhausted with sin and will bring an end to it one day soon. He will pass judgement on those who refuse the person and work of Jesus while those in faith will walk free. YES, IT IS THE GOSPEL TRUTH, in faith means we walk out of His courtroom free men and women. Praise God!

Mercy Fellowship | 941-882-0183 | 1200 Ogden Rd. Suite 2 | Venice, FL 34285 | Website

This series is adapted from the book Winning The War In Your Mind