Devotion - Wednesday, March 11

This morning I read Romans 5:1 - "Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Being at peace with another means there is no tension or anxiety or worry or fear of misunderstanding.  Being at peace with another means do not doubt their Intention's toward us or their likely response.

Paul says we have peace with God.  We have it through Jesus; we have it because it is faith which justifies us and not our own ability to do or accomplish.

What good news this is!  So good it is difficult to accept it.  Last evening, at the student bible study, we were discussing the texts for the coming Sunday.  We will be hearing the Ephesians text on justification by grace.  And yet, as we discussed las night, many won't accept that message and once again insist that there is something we must do in order to receive this gift from God.

And so, they are not at peace, with God.

This whole section of Romans is Paul's attempt to point out that we receive this peace as a gift from God. If we had earned it, we would have reason to boast. But we have not.  It is God's gift to us.  There was a time when every sermon ended with "May the peace of God which passes understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord."  It does "pass" understanding that God would love us this much.  It does pass understanding that God would be the actor to bridge the gap between us.

But so it is - and as a result - "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."