He paid the debt for us

062708:
I am so excited, grateful, and joyful! Last night, Hanzo and I found out that we are expecting a baby! Praise God! Praise the Lord! I'm going to try my best to describe what I'm going through. Last night, all I wanted to do was begin a legacy for my baby. We started writing in a journal, which Mom (Jocelyn) bought for Hanzo when they were in Italy. In it, we will leave letters to our baby with gems of wisdom and words of love and encouragement. Also, I insisted that we get a photo with the stick and a QuickTime video of our first video message to the baby. This morning, I woke up at 6am and felt so energized! I started praying to God, asking for blessings for our baby. God told me to get up and do a devo. When I went into the kitchen to get breakfast, my mom came into the kitchen. She was leaving for work. She asked me about my craps because a few nights ago, I had mentioned that I had a cramp or severe pain in my abdomen. I guess she was worried about it. But then, it left me an opportunity to tell her about the good news! I couldn't help but smile when she asked me...so I actually had to tell her. My mom was very happy. And now, here I am, doing my devo, but getting a little side tracked in trying to remember this special moment in my life.

1 Kings 14:6 But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, " The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin."

In the Law of Moses, Deut. 24:16 says "Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin. Ezekiel 18:20 says 20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself." And yet, God broke the law of this world so that we would be free! God made the law Himself. He told Moses and the other prophets that no one should pay for another person's sins. Yet, because of His grace, He placed all the wickedness and the sins of mankind on the only Son He has.

This scripture has captured my heart to think that God would do something so uncommonly merciful for all of us. I'm sure that this was one of the laws that people would say while sneering at others who have wronged them. "Grr...well, you shall be put to death for your own sin." It's sort of a way for us to wash our hands clean of the guilt and let the sinner continue on their way to eternal flames. However, God does not do that. God says to us, "You are going the wrong direction, come and follow me." He says, "You have wronged me, but if you would see and repent, I will save you." Moreover, while we were still unrepentant sinners, He sent Jesus to die for our sins! Does this mean that God only wants me to ask for forgiveness every time so that I never reap the consequences of my actions? No way. God is just. He will make sure that discipline follows. However, He is quick to forgive and will always bring good out of that sinful situation for redeeming purposes. I think it is also important for me to explain that Jesus' sacrifice does not mean that we are no longer accountable for our own sins. I find peace in knowing that my sins will not bear punishment on my child because God does keep us accountable. The main point is, that God didn't need to save us, instead, He wanted to and He did so. How can I be different today because I am renewed in my awareness of this awesome act of love? I can look at other people today, and know that God paid the ultimate price for that person and then I must treat them according to the value that God has placed on them. Other people are precious, priceless, and worth loving because God loved them first and placed the value on their life.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the debt which we owed to You. Lord Jesus, You had the right to tell us that our blood should be on our own heads. However, Lord, I am so grateful that You loved us with God's love and saved us from our debt of sin. Forgive me today, Father, for my sins and trespasses against You. Correct me and lead me in Your everlasting way. Please prepare me to be a genuine, Christian mother. Lord, please keep Your hand upon our baby and pour out Your love and joy even now in these early stages of pregnancy. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.