Romans

December 17th – Romans 5:8

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Romans 5:8

The word “wretch” can be traced back to the Old English word “wrecca”, meaning one who is despicable, or contemptible. An outcast or an exile. A perfect description for each of us when it comes to our standing before a holy and perfect God. But because of His grace and mercy, through the blood of Christ, our Father in heaven takes us once wretched, and makes us His beloved. What does this mean? This means that even though I am a sinner and fail daily, God wants me. All of me; the good, the bad, and the ugly. And not because of my great love for Him, but because of His great love for me. Richard Sibbes is quoted as saying, “there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” As I continue to have good and bad days, successes and failures, I will be forever grateful for God’s grace and mercy that no matter what will remain the same. And most of all, I will rejoice in God’s amazing grace that saved a wretch like me!

December 17th – Romans 5:8 Read More »

December 5th – Habakkuk 3:19

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Habakkuk 3:19

It’s easy to have a deep and obedient faith when God answers our prayers exactly the way we want. But what about when He doesn’t? The prophet Habakkuk cried out to God to deal with the wickedness of Judah. But when God’s answer was the nation’s destruction, Habakkuk couldn’t understand the Lord’s reasoning. Have you ever felt like that? Unable to understand why God’s answer to your prayer would involve suffering? In Isaiah 55:8-9 we are told that the thoughts and ways of God are higher than our human brains can comprehend. So even if we don’t understand His methods, we can trust that God uses all things for our good. (Rom. 8:28) That’s what faith is all about! Trusting that even though this life is filled with trials and suffering, and we don’t have all the answers, we can still praise God. For He is our strength and our joy. And in His perfect love will never let us falter, carrying our feet to high places of safety!

December 5th – Habakkuk 3:19 Read More »

November 22nd – Romans 5:8

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Romans 5:8 

I’m thankful that even though I’m a sinner, Jesus died for me

Romans is my absolute favorite book in the Bible, and chapter 5 is one of the reasons why. To me it sums up the message of the gospel beautifully. Once we were helpless, dead in spirit, and enemies of God. But through the grace and mercy of the Lord, not only can we have peace with our Heavenly Father, we can rejoice in hope. Hope that one day we will spend eternity with Him. Once we lived in darkness, eternally separated by sin from God. But because of His great love, God refused to leave us in that hopeless condition. So He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide reconciliation. Now, because of Christ’s death on the Cross, we are declared innocent and righteous before God. And through the blood of the Lamb, we become adopted sons and daughters in God’s family and heirs to His wonderful promises. And all of this is only possible through the amazing love God has for each and every one of us!

November 22nd – Romans 5:8 Read More »

November 20th – Romans 4:8

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Romans 4:8 

I’m thankful the Lord never holds my sin against me

Oswald Chambers once said, “Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ.” There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t sin against God everyday. And not a person alive who doesn’t need forgiveness everyday. Lucky for us, we serve a God whose grace and mercy are boundless. One who promises that if we confess and repent of our transgressions, not only does He forgive them, He forgets them! For as Ps. 103:12 tells us, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” What does that mean? Did you know if you travel north, eventually you’ll end up going south. But if you travel east, never will you meet west. That’s how awesome our God is. Even though we deserve nothing, He gave us everything. Through His precious Son, Jesus Christ, God provided a way for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to be declared righteous!

November 20th – Romans 4:8 Read More »

November 19th – Romans 6:23

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Romans 6:23

I am grateful that Jesus paid my debt in full!

As we swing into holiday mode, people get into the gift giving spirit. And one of my favorite are the stories about good Samaritans paying off the debts of others. We too have a Good Samaritan. One who will provide us with the best gift we could ever receive. And that gift bearer is Jesus Christ. We all have a sin debt owing. And the penalty of that debt is death, which has to be paid one way or the other. So God in His great love, sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a perfect sin offering. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus wipes away all of our sin. And when we trust in Christ and receive Him as our Savior, God credits our account. Because of the blood payment of Jesus, our sin is paid in full, and we are declared debt free! And in return, we get the awesome privilege of spending eternity with the Lord and sharing in His glory!

November 19th – Romans 6:23 Read More »

November 9th – Romans 10:14

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Romans 10:14 

I am thankful to have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior

In the book of Joel we get a wonderful declaration from God. “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord, will be delivered.”(Joel 2:32) How awesome is that? But the apostle Paul teaches God’s promise comes with a condition. He warns that we can play the part of a Christian, confessing Jesus as Lord. But unless we truly believe it in our hearts, and show it in our actions, it isn’t genuine faith. And if our faith isn’t real, how can we call on Christ for deliverance? How can we turn to Him for help, if we truly haven’t made Him Lord and Savior of our lives? But then Paul goes one step further. How can anyone receive Jesus if they haven’t heard of Him? And how can they hear of Him if no one is preaching the saving grace of Jesus to them? Our loving Father promises victory to all who are truly His. And out of thankfulness for His saving grace, we need to share the message of that grace to others!

November 9th – Romans 10:14 Read More »

November 4th – Romans 10:9

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Romans 10:9

I am thankful for the freedom to have heart that believes and a mouth that publicly confesses Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior

Paul makes it clear that there are no works we could ever do to earn salvation. It’s a gift that God offers to all who believe and receive Jesus as their Savior. Yet Paul also says we that we must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. But isn’t making confession mandatory fall in the category of works? Is Paul adding conditions the Lord never intended? The truth is, Paul meant confession isn’t a requirement for salvation, but rather the evidence of salvation. When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, it was a tumultuous time for Christians. It was one thing to confess Jesus as Lord behind closed doors. But to confess Him as Lord publicly, meant certain persecution and possibly death. Paul himself was beaten, imprisoned, and beheaded for his faith. So He knew well the weight of a public confession. But he also knew that those who were truly saved, would not only believe in their hearts, but confess with their mouths for all to hear; no matter the consequences.

November 4th – Romans 10:9 Read More »

November 1st – Romans 1:16

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Romans 1:16

I’m thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ

When the apostle Paul was in Rome, he boldly, and publicly declared how he wasn’t ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And even bolder still, he wasn’t afraid to share that gospel with others. Because not only is it a privilege to carry on the work of Jesus and share His message, as the only one true gospel it has the power to save lives. So how about you? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Before you answer, let me ask you this? I once read to live unashamed of the gospel means we proclaim it, but we also show our belief in it through our actions and how we live our life. We cannot talk the talk and not walk the walk. For that makes our testimony useless and us no better than a Pharisee. Paul’s life choices supported his message. He did not preach one thing and live another. Instead he lived a life of obedience and represented God with bravery and enthusiasm. And out of thankfulness for sacrifice of Jesus, we should do the same!

November 1st – Romans 1:16 Read More »

October 27th – Romans 8:16-17

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Romans 8:16-17

God’s Promise – “Jesus is happy to share His inheritance with you.”

We’ve all heard the saying, “you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family.” But God in His goodness gives us the chance to do just that. Because once we choose to receive Jesus as our Savior, we become adopted heirs into God’s family. His beloved children reborn through the blood of Jesus. The Holy Spirit who comes to indwell us, testifies before the Lord that we are His. And we receive the great privilege of calling God, “Abba, Father!” Better still, we become joint heirs with Jesus to all the glories of God’s kingdom! Our Father in heaven never intended for us to walk through this life alone. That’s why He created families. And He longs for each of us to join His. To receive His perfect love, comfort, and guidance. God invites us to climb unto His lap, and rest in the arms of a loving Father. The One who gave His only begotten Son to offer adoption papers to the world!

October 27th – Romans 8:16-17 Read More »

October 10th – Romans 8:1

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Romans 8:1

God’s Promise – “Because of Jesus, you are free from all condemnation.”

One day each of us will stand in the court of God to be judged. But for those Jesus calls His own, no guilty verdict will be found nor penalty to pay. Why? Because once we were in chains, slaves to sin and burdened under the Law of God which we were unable to obey. But out of His great love, Jesus died to free us from that bondage. He became the perfect fulfillment of God’s Law. And His work on the Cross paid full restitution for every past, present, and future sin. As a result of Christ’s sacrifice, we are now reconciled to God and declared innocent. The pull of sin is strong, and we all struggle. Even the apostle Paul wrestled with succumbing to sin. But because Jesus loves us so much, He refuses to leave anyone in their wickedness. And so He offers to all who believe upon Him the chance to have their sins blotted out forever. To stand before God declared righteous, justified, and forgiven!

October 10th – Romans 8:1 Read More »