Faith: Faith JustifiesSample

All Because of The Jell-O

It all started with a simple trip to the museum with our senior adults. I was excited to connect with them and see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, not realizing that the day would soon give me a powerful illustration of God’s grace.

We enjoyed exploring the museum and learning about the ancient scrolls. Afterward, we decided to have lunch together at the museum cafeteria. By this point, I was famished, and the variety of options awakened my appetite even more. As I moved along the line, I couldn't help but pile my tray high with delicious-looking dishes, including those tantalizing cubes of Jell-O that I only ever order at cafeterias.

As I approached the register, the cashier told me the total, which seemed excessive for a cafeteria meal. I was shocked and slightly embarrassed by the amount but reached for my wallet anyway. That’s when I discovered they only accepted cash, which I didn’t have. Panic set in, but the sweet old lady beside me graciously offered to pay for my meal. She took out her purse, carefully counted the bills, and handed them over. The guilt I felt was overwhelming, but she insisted it was her honor to buy my lunch.

When we sat down to eat, I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt and gratitude. That's when it hit me—this experience perfectly represented the biblical concept of justification.

In the Bible, justification is a legal term where God declares us righteous in His sight through our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not about our good works or what we can accomplish on our own. It’s about God’s grace and love covering our sins and making us right with Him. And as we walk through life, we load our trays with the many blessings that come with being justified—peace, access to God, endurance, perseverance, and the love of Christ.

When we reach the end of the line, ready to pay for all these blessings, we find that Jesus has already taken care of the bill. Just like the sweet old lady at the museum cafeteria, Jesus paid the bill for us when He died on the cross, shedding His blood for our sins. We can never repay the debt we owe, but we can gratefully accept His gift and live in the light of His love.

As we explore this concept further in these devotionals, take some time to meditate on how God has blessed you. It may be hard if you are going through a difficult time right now, but start with your salvation. Think about how gracious He has been in saving you, and then everything else will follow.