20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,

22 and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

— 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.

13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

— Ephesians 1:7, 12-14

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

— Romans 8:29-30

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. God’s promises point to His redemptive, regenerative work through His Spirit and His Son, humanity’s Savior. All believers, both Jews and Gentiles, rely on God’s life-giving power to overcome the deadness sin brings. Ultimately, God’s restorative work in a fallen world exalts His holy name.

We Christians enjoy lavish blessings as God’s children. Forgiveness of sin, fellowship with God, and Spirit-empowered understanding of God’s truth continually bless us believers. With faith in Christ, believers can live in this broken world with unwavering confidence that they will spend eternity free from sin in God’s presence forever. However, as we enjoy God’s undeserved compassion, unlimited grace, and abundant faithfulness, we need to do more than bask in our untold blessings. Ultimately, God uses both good and hard times to point us to Himself, to sanctify us, to renew and transform us, to conform us into the image of His Son for magnifying His name and His glory.