Say Yes to Jesus

But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. . . . So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:14, 18 NLT

I want to encourage you to be consumed with the person of Jesus. God’s Word says that “you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30 NIV).

Jesus Himself is your wisdom, your righteousness, and also your holiness!

The Greek word used here for “holiness” is hagiasmos, the same Greek word used for “sanctification.” Our holiness or sanctification is found in the person of Jesus.

So whenever you have an unclean thought, or a stirring in you, or a temptation to sin, stop for a while and look at Jesus. See the cross. See and experience His love, forgiveness, and grace for you afresh. Jesus is your victory over every temptation, addiction, and bondage!

Some people believe that all you have to do is say no to temptation. But you know what? Your willpower is no match for sin. The reality is, the more you try to say no by your own efforts, the worse it becomes.

The apostle Paul describes this very struggle, which he himself experienced: “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Rom. 7:19).

So the answer is not to depend on your willpower to say no to temptation, but to depend on God’s grace and say yes to Jesus! In the midst of your struggle and temptation, say YES to Jesus. Say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are my righteousness, my holiness, and my redemption.” Turn every temptation into an opportunity to look to and praise Jesus!

That’s what Paul did. Just look at what he says in Romans 7:24–25: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Paul’s answer for victory over sin is found in a person. His question was, “Who will deliver me?” It wasn’t, “Which commandment will deliver me?”

Your liberty from every sinful habit is found in the person of Jesus! Say yes to Him! He is your righteousness and holiness. Let Him come into the areas where you feel the weakest and allow His grace to transform you from the inside out.

My friend, it is so clear from today’s scripture that holiness is all about becoming more and more like Jesus and it comes about when the veil of the law is removed. When the veil is removed, we see our beautiful Savior face-to-face and His glorious grace transforms us from glory to glory. The gospel of glorious grace always produces glorious lives.

I pray that as you read more and more about God's grace, you will have a greater revelation of just how wonderful your Savior is, just how perfect His work on Calvary was, and just how deeply loved YOU are.

And as you behold Jesus, may you grow from glory to glory and shine as a testament to all of His goodness!

This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution.