Wanted: Dead or Alive - by request

Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Revelation 22:12-13 NLT

You've seen one.
Wanted: Dead or Alive!
Underneath is the emblazoned heading is a mug shot of the criminal. Underneath that may or may not be a list of their dirty deeds. Underneath that is ALWAYS whatever the payoff might be - 
Reward! $100,000.

Wanted posters are always about the bad guys. In American TV westerns, bad guys were the ones who did NOT wear white hats. They looked mean. They were usually dirty and unshaven and  had scars. On TV, it was always easy to tell who the bad guys were. 

I wish it was still that easy... Although, from a biblical perspective, and in light of Scripture, it still IS easy to tell who are the bad guys. Based on God's laws, every one of us could have our face on a wanted poster.

Can you imagine having your picture plastered all over town - complete with a list or summary paragraph of all your deeds? Even the one(s) you hoped no one would ever know? That's a sobering thought, isn't it? Especially in light of our Promise for Today - Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. We have to ask ourselves, "According to MY deeds, how will I be repaid?"

The good news today is spelled out in Colossians 2:13&14. In the New Living Translation, it reads, You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. We have been pardoned. Our sins erased. 

God wants us dead and alive - dead to sin and alive to Him.

Prayer:

Father,
          Cause Your Word to be alive in our hearts and minds. Lord, we want to be and do all that You have planned for us to be and do. We want to be dead to the pull of the world and alive and responsive to only You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen