WEBVTT 00:04.250 --> 00:14.284 [SPEAKER_00]: in today's verse 15, we're going to continue our series seeking to simply stir our affections towards God by looking at His boundless grace. 00:15.706 --> 00:20.532 [SPEAKER_00]: On a daily basis, it's God's grace that always draws me close first. 00:21.434 --> 00:27.642 [SPEAKER_00]: His forgiveness, His loving compassion, His gaze changes everything. 00:28.347 --> 00:35.816 [SPEAKER_00]: May God open our eyes and hearts in a special way today to receive His grace in every corner of our hearts. 00:36.820 --> 00:39.370 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:00.933 --> 01:27.261 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7, Scripture says, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. 01:30.970 --> 01:36.958 [SPEAKER_00]: Grace is one of the most astounding and life-transforming aspects of God's character. 01:38.400 --> 01:45.130 [SPEAKER_00]: From the beginning of time, God has chosen to lavish grace upon us instead of wrath. 01:46.632 --> 01:49.696 [SPEAKER_00]: Time and time again, we've turned our backs on him. 01:50.798 --> 01:58.969 [SPEAKER_00]: In time and time again, he demonstrates the depth of his desire for us through the giving of his boundless grace. 02:00.755 --> 02:12.385 [SPEAKER_00]: In His grace, we are afforded a life not only apart from His wrath, but lived in the glory of relationship with our Creator through the redemption of Jesus. 02:14.356 --> 02:26.548 [SPEAKER_00]: Ephesians 1 verse 7 says, in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. 02:27.950 --> 02:33.395 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at a few of these ideas today and let them stir our affections for God. 02:34.877 --> 02:43.165 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow God to speak through His word to the places of your heart or the 02:45.355 --> 02:49.807 [SPEAKER_00]: Paul says that in Jesus, we have redemption through His blood. 02:51.031 --> 02:54.741 [SPEAKER_00]: Have you thought about the nature of your redemption at length before? 02:55.953 --> 03:24.525 [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians chapter 1, verses 19 through 22 says, for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross, and you who once were alienated and hostile in mind, 03:24.505 --> 03:36.223 [SPEAKER_00]: He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. 03:39.849 --> 03:47.340 [SPEAKER_00]: Such is the grace of your Heavenly Father that there is not a single thing between you and him. 03:48.569 --> 03:58.238 [SPEAKER_00]: You, who, at one time, stood apart from God, have been brought into the family of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus. 04:00.239 --> 04:07.546 [SPEAKER_00]: Not only have you been redeemed once and for all, but you are forgiven both now and forever. 04:09.308 --> 04:17.715 [SPEAKER_00]: Paul writes that we as believers have the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. 04:19.450 --> 04:22.733 [SPEAKER_00]: Where in your life do you need forgiveness today? 04:24.235 --> 04:30.081 [SPEAKER_00]: What do you feel is separating you from unveiled relationship with your heavenly Father? 04:32.103 --> 04:38.070 [SPEAKER_00]: When you confess your sins, God offers you His forgiveness for anything you have done. 04:38.130 --> 04:48.681 [SPEAKER_00]: According to the riches of His grace, which was made perfectly evident in the death of Jesus, 04:50.146 --> 05:01.984 [SPEAKER_00]: If God would send his son to die, in order to have restored relationship with you, you better believe he will forgive any trespass that seems to stand in your way now. 05:04.128 --> 05:06.591 [SPEAKER_00]: God doesn't operate the way the world does. 05:08.114 --> 05:11.579 [SPEAKER_00]: He doesn't make you pay the penalty for your own sin. 05:12.881 --> 05:16.086 [SPEAKER_00]: Instead, he offers perfect grace. 05:17.197 --> 05:19.629 [SPEAKER_00]: in story after story in Scripture. 05:20.494 --> 05:25.620 [SPEAKER_00]: God turns the systems of the world on their head to the concept of grace. 05:26.950 --> 05:39.850 [SPEAKER_00]: In the story of the prodigal son, the father allowed the son to dishonor him, set aside his rightful punishment, and threw a huge party for his wayward child returned home. 05:41.012 --> 05:41.753 [SPEAKER_00]: He didn't wait. 05:42.835 --> 05:45.178 [SPEAKER_00]: He didn't make him work for his redemption. 05:46.120 --> 05:50.407 [SPEAKER_00]: He immediately offered him forgiveness, freely and grace. 05:51.889 --> 05:54.493 [SPEAKER_00]: God offers you the same today. 05:54.473 --> 06:02.349 [SPEAKER_00]: Don't attempt to pay for your own sin by separating yourself from the fullness of relationship with God. 06:03.852 --> 06:07.700 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus paid the only price necessary by his own death. 06:09.263 --> 06:11.588 [SPEAKER_00]: Live in light of God's grace. 06:12.293 --> 06:14.297 [SPEAKER_00]: offer your heart to God freely. 06:16.000 --> 06:26.218 [SPEAKER_00]: Let him work out redemption in every area of your life that you might more fully experience the wonderful relationship you have available to you with God. 06:51.798 --> 07:04.434 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, take time to reflect on the amazing grace of God. 07:06.337 --> 07:11.804 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 119 says, He sent redemption to His people. 07:12.925 --> 07:19.273 [SPEAKER_00]: He has commanded His covenant forever, holy and awesome, is His name. 07:30.492 --> 07:48.484 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 08:01.643 --> 08:12.759 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, talk to God about any area of your life you feel separated from him through sin or a lack of understanding. 08:14.321 --> 08:16.845 [SPEAKER_00]: Where in your life do you not feel grace? 08:18.367 --> 08:23.635 [SPEAKER_00]: What part of your thinking is dominated by condemnation or negativity? 08:32.862 --> 08:33.676 [UNKNOWN]: You 09:02.647 --> 09:09.805 [SPEAKER_00]: and last, ask God for forgiveness and understanding of His grace in those areas of your life. 09:11.469 --> 09:18.968 [SPEAKER_00]: Receive the freedom that comes from His presence in forgiveness. 09:35.367 --> 09:47.301 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you for watching. 10:01.996 --> 10:08.783 [SPEAKER_00]: God works tirelessly to lead you into the fullness of relationship with him because he loves you. 10:10.304 --> 10:11.706 [SPEAKER_00]: You are his child. 10:12.887 --> 10:14.809 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows everything about you. 10:15.830 --> 10:19.313 [SPEAKER_00]: He's created you and he loves spending time with you. 10:20.695 --> 10:23.558 [SPEAKER_00]: May your affections be stirred towards him today. 10:24.779 --> 10:29.944 [SPEAKER_00]: May you know and experience his love 10:31.105 --> 10:39.259 [SPEAKER_00]: May you spend your day in God's presence, changed and empowered by the reality of His boundless grace. 10:56.047 --> 10:58.430 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast. 10:58.911 --> 11:00.833 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 11:01.955 --> 11:07.882 [SPEAKER_00]: If Grace is something hard for you to receive, a gift you don't feel you deserve to open. 11:07.942 --> 11:12.568 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend some time today processing that with someone you're close with. 11:13.690 --> 11:19.978 [SPEAKER_00]: If there's an area of your life where you're unable to forgive yourself or love yourself well, 11:19.958 --> 11:33.883 [SPEAKER_00]: Processing that with someone else can be a really helpful beginning in the journey to healing and wholeness in God Have a wonderful rest of your day today and may God bless you as you see him