3 Dots 3 Days

Lots to do today so I'm sharing a devotional involving Braille code. I wrote it a couple of years ago now I think. It's so hard for me to keep track. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NIV) In Braille code one to six dots are used to represent letters, punctuation, words, or to change a word. When the letter C stands alone becomes the word can. But if you put dots 4-5-6 before the C it becomes the word cannot. Those three little dots wield much power, changing a positive into a negative. What else has such power--three days. Over 2000 years ago three days changed the course of human history. Jesus died, spent some time in a borrowed tomb and rose again, conquering death. He also conquered the devil changing what he can do into what he cannot do in the life of the believer. For those who are in Christ, Satan no longer has the power to condemn. We are sinners saved by grace. Now that’s not an invitation to sin but an understanding that fallen man needs a covering. The devil can no longer use shame to make us feel guilty for our wrongdoing. The bumper sticker fades but the message remains: Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven. So the next time someone tries to make you feel unworthy of Christ’s love, just remember He chose to die for you. Unfortunately, Satan hasn’t read the memo. He’s still going to try to condemn and control. When you stand firm in Christ’s power Satan cannot control you. It’s a message that’s hard to apply. Our lives seem so out of control but we can give that control over to God. When we allow Him to reign, rust corrodes Satan’s tool box, filled with big and small things designed to turn us away from God. But rust doesn’t deter him from trying to wield the sledgehammer of alcohol and drugs. Rust doesn’t stop him from reaching for the drill of distraction or any of the other tools. Satan can try to use his tools but he cannot succeed when we are in Christ through prayer and reading our Bible. When we pray, let us not forget to thank Him for Calvary. Those three days changed our history. That should be the first of our blessings we count. How will you let those three days change you?