Devotion - Wednesday, March 6

Romans 5:1-11 contains several verses worthy of memorization.  Paul has addressed the question of whether the law can save us ("No") and has given his insights to the way in which Abraham was justified ("By faith").  These eleven verses could be read as a summary of the above, as a re-affirmation of the essential role that faith plays in our salvation.

The first of these reads:  "Therefore, since we have been justified by fatih, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

If our justification is by any means other than faith, if it obtained by us through effort, if it has to be wrestled from the grip of a judgmental or angry God - then, there is no peace between us and God.  If justification is what we want, but what God holds back, how can there be peace between us?

Later in this section we read, "Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us." 

The questions of human suffering will forever haunt us, and we will wonder why such things are in our world.  We can never obtain a place where they are gone, but we can come to terms with them and not allow them to erode our confidence of God's love.

One more:  "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

God's act comes before, not after.  God makes the sacrifice, then turns to us for a response.  If Christ would die for us when we are still alienated from him, how much more would he do now that we have been made one?

I wish this section of scripture were stretched over several days of reading and prayer.  I hope these few nuggets will give you something to reflect on this day, and encourage you in your own reflection time to marvel at the desire of God to unite us with himself.