We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Nate Hemphill.
Bible Reading:
Romans 5:1-2
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Word:
“God is for us” “God is with us” “God loves us”…many of us rightly boast of these truths every day. We speak these phrases confidently as people of God, saved by the grace given to us through the payment made on our behalf by Jesus Christ. Having peace with God is an amazing thing when you consider the state we were all in before accepting his gift of salvation. As human beings, we were all unavoidably borne into sin and thus separated from God. Just as naturally as we breathe, we too were identified as sinners – fallen from what we were created to be. We were literally enemies of God.
What does it mean to be an enemy of God? That might be a hard thought for some to wrap their heads around. It isn’t like anyone set out on a mission to offend God right? This is why it is so important that we recognize just how ugly sin is. Every selfish impulse that we have, every instance of bitterness or jealousy, every judgement that we’ve ever hurled at another person – these are the result of Adam and Eve’s original sin. And prior to receiving forgiveness from God, these sins bound us to an identity – Sinner – Enemy of God.
Now with a clear perspective, read again today’s scripture. Those of us who believe have “peace with God.” Although we had nothing to bring to the table, nothing to offer, nothing to negotiate with, God took it upon himself to pay our ransom. Our identity is no longer “sinner” but rather “son” or “daughter.” Peace with God means hope. Peace with God means purpose and provision. Peace with God means we’ll never be abandoned. Judgement has passed over us by the blood of Jesus! What a wonderful state of affairs – to be at peace with God!
Prayer:
It’s in Your name that I pray, amen.
Skillwork:
Are you at peace with God? If you’ve never received the gift of salvation before, we would love to pray with you today and introduce you to a relationship that will change your eternity. Are you a believer struggling to see yourself as God sees you? Peace with God is available to all. Reach out today to your local Faith RX Chapter. We’re here to talk with you – then to walk with you.
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