Faithful Friday: Be Truly Glad…

So often when we start to get into the second half of a season I begin to forward to the next season ahead. Right now I’m longing for spring, next fall I’ll be looking ahead to winter. For me, it’s similar to when we have a vacation coming up – the time spent looking forward to it is half the fun!

I was thinking today about how this relates to the promise of Heaven that lies before me. How much more incredible and exciting is that to look forward to than just a passing season! I’m so thankful to have that promise of eternal hope to grasp on to regardless of if there is snow on the ground or spring blossoms pushing up through the soil. It is a promise that is wholly deserved but graciously offered despite my many shortcomings. I’m so thankful.

Romans 3:23-26 {NLT}
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.