March 3 – Romans 5:6-11
Our Jesus, we praise You, for You are Salvation. You are Hope. You are peace! We love You and want to draw near to You. Be with us as we come together to spend time with You and worship You.
Yesterday, we talked about standing in grace and how the act of standing is strength. And here in verse 6, Paul talks about us being weak. How can we be both? Before salvation, we were weak, that is, ungodly. Without Jesus, our spiritual state is lacking, weak, unbelieving, dreadful. Yet through Jesus’ death (verse 8), we have life and are made strong, for His Spirit is within us!
Think our salvation stops there? Nope! We are not only saved from the bondage of sin but will see glory because we are reconciled to Him in the final judgement. We are saved from God’s wrath! Today’s church is really good at promoting God’s goodness. But we, Jesus followers, must remember that God’s wrath and righteous anger is coming. But through Jesus, our fear of that wrath has been replaced by rejoicing! We have life IN Jesus, not just because of Him.
Paul says that this rejoicing is more than everything we just discussed. Why would He say that? What could be more thrilling than salvation and reconciliation?! God’s joy! God has given us His joy! Even Jesus went to the cross for His joy. He didn’t just save us from death for reconciliation; He wanted us to have His own joy, to walk in it, live in it, breathe in it, rejoice in it.
Is your state of being one of joy and rejoicing? Or has the joy of Christmas already dimmed and slowed? Today, take a moment to step outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and whisper one phrase of praise to the God who put His own joy into your soul. And when you feel that joy start to bubble up… grab hold of it and thank Jesus for what He did for you on the cross.
My Verse: Romans 5:11, “More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
My Response: Oh God, my God. Forgive me the countless times I do not joy and rejoice in You. Forgive me the times I focus on the grey, grainy bits of life and lose focus on You.
I want to choose joy in every moment, and yet so often I get so comfy in my own glumness that I choose that. Call out my name, God, and call me to You.
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My verse: Romans 5:10 “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”
My response: A … friendship … restored? Lord, these words astound me. I understand being Your child – I know so little. It makes sense I would need a parent. I understand being Your bondservant. You are the good Master and have every right to tell me what to do and how to live. But here. Here I am called your friend. An intimate relationship where we share our secrets together, finish each other’s sentences, and delight in cups of tea and good conversation. You offer … friendship. Intimacy. Relationship. Deep closeness and understanding. It is just so MUCH. Thank You.