Friday, May 8, 2009

"Undressed Stones"

Deuteronomy 27:5-6

These two short verses have come to be so dear to me along with every other verse where God commanded His people to make an altar of field stones or “undressed stones” in the King James. What on earth does that even mean? It means that the people were to make an altar of stones that they had done nothing to except just pick up off the ground. They had not used any tools on them to make them beautiful or carved any image into them. They were just rocks. They had added nothing to them.

The significance is that they could not impress God into forgiving them by how beautiful their altar was. They had nothing to offer God that would make Him forgive them. He was forgiving them because He wanted to. It pleased Him to do it.

When we come to the cross there is absolutely nothing we can bring with us that will impress God into forgiving us. He is forgiving us because of Jesus’ sacrifice – not because of anything we have to offer Him. We can add nothing to salvation. We can do nothing to earn salvation. It is offered as a gift to those who will accept it.

Have you accepted His ultimate gift today or are you still trying to impress God with you talents and good works? None of those will work, but you can come with a humble heart and He will not turn you away. Come to Christ today with the "undressed stones" of your life. He is ready to accept anyone who will trust in Him.

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