Daily Devotion for March 3rd

The Gift of Grace
Read 1 John 2:1-6
If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
-1 John 2:12 (NRSV)
THE flashing red-and-blue lights in my rear-view mirror signaled that the police officer had seen me speeding. "Oh, no!" I said aloud in my empty car. "He caught me doing 50 in a 40-mile-per-hour zone!"
I was guilty and I knew it. I pulled to the curb, stopped, and rolled down my window. "May I see your license and registration, please?" asked the officer. I handed them to him.
"I'm not going to give you a ticket this time," said the officer, "even though you were speeding." Startled, I thanked him repeatedly. I knew his mercy had saved me from punishment I certainly deserved.
That incident reminded me of the grace of God. As a result of my sins, I deserve punishment from a holy God. But the atoning sacrifice of Christ rescues me from this punishment and gives me eternal life.
Jerry Kaplowitz (Tennessee, USA)

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving your life for us, to restore our relationship with God. May we never take your forgiveness for granted. Amen.

Thought for the day:
Because of Jesus Christ, we receive grace, not condemnation.