Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+012

 

Romans 12 English Standard Version (ESV)

A Living Sacrifice

¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Gifts of Grace

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

REFLECTION

• The Old Testament worshipers brought animals to the temple, to be killed and laid on the altar. Paul reversed the imagery. He encouraged Christians to bring themselves to the altar and live for God. This is one of the wonderful things about worship. We do worship God when we go to church, when we pray, when we raise our voices in song. But we also worship God every day whenever we do anything that pleases Him.
• Paul then told us “by the renewal of your mind”, we may be transformed to become, just like butterflies, beautiful and new. What is to be transformed is the way we look at life: the values, the thoughts, the motives, and the viewpoint from which we evaluate choices. In short, we need to see everything from God’s point of view. Then, “you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete”.
• Pray with the Scripture (vv1-2): In view of God’s mercy, may I present my body as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God, which is my reasonable service. May I not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove that the will of God is good and acceptable and perfect. (Ken Boa, Handbook to Prayer)

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You for sacrificing Yourself on the cross and accomplishing the redemption sacrifice for us. Through Your precious blood, our sins are covered, and through our faith, we become children of God, receiving the eternal blessings of life. You are our Savior, and even more, You are our Lord of life. You have promised that if we take up our cross and follow You, we can live a holy and abundant life in this present age. Lord, the admonitions and teachings You have given us through the Apostle Paul are so valuable. I desire to follow Your words and offer my body as a living sacrifice, pleasing to You. I want to die to sin and ask You to renew my mind, guarding me against the allure of worldly vanity. I desire to live for You, reflecting Your humility, gentleness, and love for others. Please walk with me daily and grant me strength. I want to offer all my praises, thanksgiving, and worship to You. Amen!

 

HYMN

Living Sacrifice – youtu.be/XwmUBqXo-Gs

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+011

 

Romans 11 English Standard Version (ESV)

Gentiles Grafted In

¹¹ So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴ in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. ¹⁹ Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. ²³ And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

 

REFLECTION

• Farmers in Bible times grafted cultivated olive tree branches onto wild olive trees in order to improve the quality of the olive fruits. Paul pictured God, grafting wild Gentile branches onto cultivated Israel’s roots – an act of amazing grace. And Paul is warning the Gentile Christians not to develop an air of superiority over Jews. Gentiles are in God’s grace only by virtue of a miracle – God’s miracle of “grafting” them into the salvation tree.
• This image is a reminder. The natural branches lost their place because they failed to understand grace. We dare not lose sight of the fact that salvation is a gift of God, a demonstration of pure grace.
• Arrogance is always an enemy of grace. The arrogant person assumes that there is some virtue or quality in himself that wins God’s approval. The fact is that there is nothing in any man or woman that merits praise. We are all sinners. We all fall so short that all we can rightly do is fall humbly to our knees.
• If you notice the slightest hint of arrogance in your attitude, be afraid. You are rushing headlong away from grace and away from God.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that You make me more humble and gentle, kneeling before You daily and giving all thanks and praise to You. May I see Your glory in all things and never be separated from Your grace throughout my life. You are the true vine, and we are the branches. Apart from You, we can do nothing, and we will wither and be thrown into the fire. You have promised us that if we remain in You, You will also remain in us, and we will bear much fruit, fulfilling the Father’s will in our lives. Lord, I deeply understand that my salvation does not depend on my actions but on the vast salvation You have accomplished for all mankind. You are the way, the truth, and the life. I can only find meaning in my life by closely following You and abiding in You. Please enable me to bear much fruit, to exhibit good deeds that align with the faith of salvation, and to bring joy to Your heart, receiving Your reward. Amen!

 

HYMN

Refiners Fire – youtu.be/SQclw7Ptxwc

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+010

 

Romans 10 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Message of Salvation to All

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 

REFLECTION

• The central affirmation of the early church was “Jesus is Lord”; everyone else was saying “Caesar is Lord”. At their baptism, first-century Christians would make the public confession that “Jesus is Lord”. Why is public confession important in addition to the belief in one’s heart?
• What is one major way your confession of Christ as Lord has influenced your life? Who or what are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?
• As a short exercise today, say aloud twenty times: “Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, is Lord.” How did it affect your heart?

 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, God has raised You from the dead. You are my Savior and the Lord of my life! I confess You as Lord with my mouth and believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. I am saved! I have the assurance of salvation and the hope of eternal life in my heart. This is my greatest blessing and the source of my strength. I am willing to rely on Your mighty power and strength to proclaim Your name in the world and live a life that brings glory to You. In the past, I mistakenly regarded idols as my Lord. My heart’s throne was occupied by the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of this life. I was bound by Satan and trapped in the snare of sin, and I suffered countless pains without reason! But You have set me free from the snare, restored my strength, and caused me to soar on wings like eagles! Lord, I thank and praise You! I pray that You grant me courage, so that I may boldly acknowledge You as Lord in all circumstances and lead many who are still trapped in the snares of the devil to turn to You. Let them also confess You as Lord, partake of the bread of life and drink from the living water of Your life, satisfying the thirst of their souls and receiving the gift of eternal life. Amen!

 

HYMN

What A Savior – youtu.be/wG_710JTagU

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+009

 

Romans 9 English Standard Version (ESV)

God’s Sovereign Choice

¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴ They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ⁸ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. ⁹ For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”¹⁰ And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹² she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

 

REFLECTION

• These verses illustrated clearly Paul’s love for the people of Israel.  In order for his people to have God’s salvation, he’s even willing to bear their punishment.  How deep his love for them!  This is just like Christ – willing to sacrifice Himself for us.
• How do you care for those unbelieving people, especially your family, relatives, and good friends?  In order for them to receive salvation, are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy and comfortable life?
• How do you care for your fellow people, whether they may be in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan or anywhere in the word? What about those Chinese immigrants in Toronto, Canada?
• Ask the Lord to place the burden of a specific group of people in your heart.  (Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Toronto immigrants…)  Use this passage to pray for their salvation.  Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to respond to the burden in preaching the gospel among your fellow people.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, Paul’s love for his fellow countrymen deeply moves me! This love originates from You, for You willingly laid down Your life for the world, so that not one person would perish. You have said it Yourself, that You are the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, and You do not want a single sheep to be lost. Lord, I pray that You grant me stronger faith, greater passion, and increased courage to learn from Your and Paul’s shepherd’s spirit. This spirit is not only required of church leaders, but of every disciple of Yours to emulate. You have given us a new commandment to “love one another as Yourself,” and since it is a commandment, it is not optional but something that everyone must fulfill. I deeply understand that the greatest love for my fellow countrymen is to care for their souls, to share Your Gospel with them, so that they too can receive the abundant blessings I have received. Lord, I am willing to actively participate in Your great mission, carrying Your great commandment, and I pray for You to strengthen me. Amen!

 

HYMN

Build My Life – youtu.be/QZW4_8_zCBE

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+008

 

Romans 8 English Standard Version (ESV)

Future Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

REFLECTION

• In vv18-25, Paul used a bold metaphor to illustrate the sufferings in the world that is the pregnant woman’s labour pains, birth pangs. These are signs of an imminent and glorious birth – the “redemption of our bodies”. This is certainly a different way of understanding groans and suffering. Christians thus are able to realize that there is no comparison between the present hard time and the glorious future (v18). And they wait with eager longing (v19) and with patience (v25).
• How would this understanding help you better prepare to face the harsh situations in life at present time?
• In vv 26-30, when we pray, we are never “on our own”. The Spirit at all times is praying in and for us. Therefore, prayer involves not just God’s listening to us; more importantly, rather it is the Holy Spirit’s active intercessory presence in our lives.
• How do you pray? How can you experience the Holy Spirit’s active intercession for you? How would this encourage your intercession for other believers?

 

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for speaking to me once again today and reminding me that all things work together for the good of those who love God. You have spoken these words to me before, but I didn’t fully understand and even had doubts. Today, I realize that You don’t intend for everything to go smoothly for me and for me to enjoy the benefits of the world, like those who do not believe in You exchange greetings during the New Year holidays. Instead, You want me to see Your presence and guidance in everything I experience. Some things may be smooth, while others may be difficult, and at times I may even face hardships. But because of Your presence and because You have personally told me that You have overcome the world, I am filled with heavenly peace and hope in my heart. The benefits I receive from You are spiritual growth, living out Your holiness in this corrupt world. Lord, I deeply understand that my true benefits are not on this earth but in heaven. I firmly believe that You will lead me to Your eternal glory in the future. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide me, so that I may have an elevated perspective, unwavering faith, and patiently wait with a beautiful hope. Amen!

 

HYMN

Hymn of Heaven – youtu.be/bqxtFUwM3-o

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+007

 

Romans 7 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Law and Sin

⁷ What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. ¹⁰ The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.¹¹ For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. ¹² So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

 

REFLECTION

• There is no use looking for a “secret” to the spiritual life that exempts us from trouble and conflict, defeat and doubt, despair and inadequacy.  No doubt we are “at war” (v23).  There are fierce difficulties with the resurrection life.  Have you uttered the cry as Paul did: “Who will rescue me”?
• Read slowly:
God uses failure, sickness, breakdown, sin, personal tragedy, and sorrow to reduce His people to usefulness.  Unless the servant of God learns to depend utterly on God and to forsake self-dependence of any kind, he or she remains too strong to be of much value. (Robert C. Girard)
• Lord, I acknowledge my weakness, indifference, and susceptibility to sin. If I rely on myself, I will only worsen and sink deeper. But thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your salvation and continuous saving grace that enables me to overcome sin and temptation. Thank You for Your salvation, Lord.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching me through the life of the apostle Paul. It has helped me understand that those who faithfully follow You must go through thrilling and intense spiritual battles in order for their lives to continually grow. Paul, who was greatly gifted and had great faith, expressed his lament, saying, “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” As Your disciple, I have not experienced struggles as great as Paul’s. Lord, I suddenly realize that this is not a sign of my maturity or faithfulness in serving You, but rather a reflection of how deeply I am entangled in sin. My weakness and indifference have made me complacent and incapable of initiating any spiritual battles. Lord, I pray that You shape me, so that I may experience the power of sin and the weakness of human nature in the midst of the battle. May I learn to rely on You and emerge victorious, becoming a disciple who brings You joy. Amen!

 

HYMN

I Lift My Hands – youtu.be/nJ8ntv3hxd4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+006

 

Romans 6 English Standard Version (ESV)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. ¹⁹ I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

REFLECTION

• In the passage, Paul warned that even though Christians are set free, they can become enslaved to sin by yielding to temptation. As believers, we should learn to yield ourselves as slaves to righteousness. Obedience to sin yields unfruitfulness, shame, and death. Obedience to righteousness results in progressive sanctification and the abundant eternal life.
• “But what do you have to show from your former lives besides shame?” (v21, The Voice) This is a fair question. What does anyone get out of sin? A momentary thrill? An instant of satisfaction? A sense of power? This is what sin offers at best – and with sin comes a sense of guilt and deep dissatisfaction. When add endless death to the list, sin doesn’t seem to pay well at all.
• Search yourself for an area where you don’t walk in freedom but continue to struggle with sin.  When do you easily give in to temptation?  What comfort, relief or pleasure does the sin give you?  What pain or discomfort does it bring?  What do you fear you would lose if you gave up the sin?
• Pray and ask God to take over your struggle and unresolved problems.  As you determine to obey God’s command, ask God for freedom from these bondages.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, today’s scripture has once again made me reflect on how deep and pervasive the impact of sin is, and how powerful the darkness is. Though Satan has been defeated by You, he still temporarily reigns in this world. He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He employs various cunning tactics, often striking us at our weakest points. Lord, let me rely on You daily, like a little lamb trusting its shepherd, looking to You alone and following You closely. Please do not let my steps slip, and do not allow my body and mind to be captured by the devil. When I fall into the temptation of sin, Lord, strengthen me and help me understand that the pleasures of sin only bring temporary satisfaction, ultimately leading my heart into deep emptiness and my soul into eternal death. Lord, may Your loving guidance lead me every day, so that I may be Your joyful servant, experiencing Your abundant grace and bearing the fruit of holiness in my life. Amen!

 

HYMN

Gracefully Broken – youtu.be/IJNR0lxbIP4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+005

 

Romans 5 English Standard Version (ESV)

 Peace with God Through Faith

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.² 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. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

REFLECTION

• Now Paul becomes exuberant as he continues this justified-by-faith life. He mentioned three “rejoices”: “rejoice in hope” (v2), “rejoice in sufferings” (v3), and “rejoice in God” (v11).
• What does a Christian see looking back, looking ahead, and looking around? — Reconciliation.

Looking back, we rejoice in God’s salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ that we have been saved and reconciled to God (v10, 11).
Looking ahead, we rejoice in the glory of God and the hope that we will stand by God throughout eternity (v2, 9).
Looking around, we rejoice in our suffering as we are being saved continually (v3). Jesus is even now at work within us to give us the power to live a holy life.

• Our past, our present and our future are all transformed because of Him. And when we are reconciled with God, it paves the way for us to be reconciled with ourselves and with others. This is a great cause for our constant rejoicing and praising.
• Thank God for this Reconciliation Gospel.  Pray that God will help you to live always in reconciliation with God, with yourself and with others.

 

PRAYER

Dear Jesus Christ, You are my Savior and the Lord of my life. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Thank You for granting me Your gospel, which reconciles me with our Heavenly Father, giving me the identity of a child and the blessings of eternal life. Through Your love, I am able to reconcile with others and with myself, experiencing heavenly peace and joy. Lord, I pray that You walk with me every day, so that in all things, I may bring glory to Your name. Send me as a messenger of Your peace, to proclaim the gospel to the poor, declare freedom for the captives, restore sight to the blind, release the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Lord, we face hardships in this world, but You have taught me to take heart, for You have overcome the world. If I encounter trouble or fall into the snares of the devil, Lord, grant me a steadfast and devout heart, that I may live a victorious life through patient endurance. You will ultimately save me, and Your Holy Spirit has poured out the love of God into my heart, ensuring that I will never lose my hope. Amen!

 

HYMN

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – youtu.be/3MZgXXUW08Q

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+004

 

Romans 4 English Standard Version (ESV)

Abraham Justified by Faith

¹ What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”⁴ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
⁸ blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

⁹ Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹² and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

 

REFLECTION

• Paul explained here that even people like Abraham were counted as righteous because of his faith in God and not his good works, not his circumcision, i.e. obeying the law. It is purely God’s grace.
• In verse 3, the term “counted to him as righteousness” literally means “to make an entry in the account book.” It’s like the person who has a huge credit card debt. One day he receives a notice from the credit card company saying that all his debts have been cleared. He no longer needs to worry about his debts.
• We, as sinners, have no righteousness that would be acceptable to God. But God has given His promise that when we believe in His Son; against our name in His account book, He makes an entry that says in effect, “This person is righteous in My sight!” Our faith has been credited to us as righteousness. What relief! What joy!
• It’s easy to feel that God accepts us only when we are good. Reread the examples of Abraham and David in this passage, how do they give us hope?

 

PRAYER

My Lord Jesus Christ, Abraham believed in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. I believe in God, and it is also credited to me as righteousness! Thank You for using Your life to accomplish the precious and incomparable salvation for all mankind. From now on, people in the world can receive Your salvation through faith, confessing their sins and repenting, becoming children of our Heavenly Father and receiving the eternal blessings of life. As David said, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them.” Lord, thank You for granting me this great blessing and making me a blessed person. Although I often fall into sins and wrongdoing, as long as I sincerely confess and repent, You forgive all my sins and still consider me as a righteous person. Lord, I am willing to rely on You, follow You, and be Your faithful disciple throughout my life. I pray that You mold my life, that I may cherish Your grace, have unwavering faith like a rock, and demonstrate good deeds that align with my faith. With my life, I want to be a beautiful testimony for You, attracting more people to receive this wonderful blessing. Amen!

 

HYMN

Anthem – youtu.be/PijwAXXQgfg

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+003

 

Romans 3 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰ since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹ Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

 

REFLECTION

• V23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Like prisoners on death row, all people are guilty, condemned and awaiting the execution of God’s wrath. They sit silently in the miserable darkness of their cell, all hope extinguished.  Then abruptly, the door swings open and darkness becomes light, death becomes life, and bondage becomes freedom. “You are pardoned,” a voice tells them. This passage tells us that this is exactly our situation.
• Do you know how you get pardoned? When did the message of God’s grace become real to you?  What impact is it having on your life right now?
• Take time to praise and thank God for Jesus Christ.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, today I once again experience how deep and profound the love of our Heavenly Father is, and how precious Your salvation is! I want to recommit myself before You and express my sincerest and deepest gratitude: I am willing to follow You all my life and walk the path of the cross. I desire to increasingly possess the character of loving others as oneself and to reflect Your humility and gentleness. I want to spread Your Gospel and great love to more people, attracting them to come before You and receive the eternal life You have given. Holy Spirit of truth, I ask that You open my eyes to see how great the darkness of this world is, to the extent that everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Open my heart to deeply empathize with the sufferings of humanity. Guide me and make me willingly available for the Lord’s use throughout my life! Lord, I offer my life as a living sacrifice to You, like a pure lily and fragrant myrrh, blossoming before Your throne. I want to pray in all things and be obedient, so that Your perfect will may be fully accomplished in my life. Amen!

 

HYMN

All We Like Sheep – youtu.be/bjOUeEpBgxs