Romans 3:21-31

Be Still: Lord Jesus, as I wait for you to speak to me today, would you fill me with your peace, centre my mind on your Word, and send me out into what you have in store for me.

Read: Romans 3:21-31

… and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (v24)

Encounter: Every religious belief system on our planet tries to provide a way for someone to climb their way up to God. If you do the right things, the right number of times then maybe, just maybe, you’ll win that particular god’s favour. 

Christianity, on the other hand, is unique. God doesn’t provide us with a ladder to climb up to him because he has already climbed down to us. As we reflected yesterday, the law was never given as a means by which we might make ourselves good enough for God. Rather, the law was given to show us just how much we needed the grace of God. The law is the mirror that shows us how deeply broken and in need of God’s compassion and mercy we are.

Jesus came to be everything that we couldn’t be – that’s why he is described as the true Adam, or the second Adam. Jesus lived out the vocation to be truly human instead of us and for us. And yet, even though he lived the life that we couldn’t live, he bore the cost of our iniquity, sin and transgression on the Cross. It is, for lack of a better phrase, a beautiful exchange. He has done everything for us, there is no more to add and nothing more to prove.

All that there is left to do is to accept what has been done for you and to revel in the Love that did it all for you. 

Apply: Do I try subtly to add to what God has done for me? Does part of me still want to prove that I am good enough and worthy of God's love? Take a moment to be honest about that with God.

Devote: Thank you, Lord, that you have done it all for me – that there is nothing I can add or take away from what you have done. Help me to rest in the knowledge of your grace and love for me today.