Devotionals by Raul Ries

FRIDAY May 22, 2026

God the Judge

...to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect....
Hebrews 12:23

When Paul wrote ...to the general assembly and church... he was writing about us. We are the firstborn who are registered in heaven. Oh, how I love that! We are already registered in heaven. Do you know where our names are registered? Our names are registered in the Book of Life. When did that happen? Our names were written in the Book of Life at the very moment we were born again of the Holy Spirit.

Interestingly, if we go back to the book of Exodus 32:32-33 and read about the time when Moses interceded on behalf of God’s people, we will discover that he asked the Lord to blot out his name from God’s Book. The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” This was a direct reference to the Book of Life.

If you go through the Old Testament and the New Testament, you will find references to the Book of Life. There are people who believe that once you are saved, your name cannot be taken out of the Book of Life. Oh, yes, it can! Your name can be blotted out! It is really important to understand this.

Look at what else Paul said in verse 24. We are perfect, but in who? We are made perfect in Jesus Christ. In fact, we are also justified before God because of Christ. Meditate on these amazing truths:

Romans 5:1: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ....

Hebrews 10:14: For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Those who have been born again of the Holy Spirit are walking in obedience to God's Word by faith and seek to live a life of holiness. They are the ones who will receive the blessing of an eternal inheritance.

None are ruined by the justice of God but those that hate to be reformed by the grace of God.
~Matthew Henry~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!