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Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:1-2(New Living Translation – NLT)
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1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
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Thought for the day:
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I love the word ‘Therefore’. It holds together everything that has been to whatever is about to come. On the 29thof August 1997, I married Cath. Therefore, I can live an incredible life of fulfilment, happiness and purpose having been blessed with two wonderful children. The word ‘therefore’ quite simply tells us that whatever is to come is only made possible by what has already been stated.
I’m aware that the first 4 chapters of Romans has been tough reading for some. It’s themes and topics are controversial and difficult to grasp given our current culture and thinking. However, you can’t have chapter 5 without the first 4 chapters.
Many people want to live their lives based on their own morals and their own ideas or thoughts. Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. If we are without sin, then Jesus died in vain. I’m sure that the sacrifice on the cross would have been avoided if we could be restored to a right relationship with God by any other way.
As hard as it may be to accept, we cannot live how we like and still expect righteousness with God. We cannot use our own morals to find peace with God. We cannot avoid the wrath of God by doing our best.
Therefore. We have peace with God ONLY because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Therefore. We stand in a right relationship with God ONLY because of our faith in His death and resurrection.
We cannot say that we have faith in His death while hold on to an understanding that we are not in sin.
Peace with God is only found in the hearts of those who know that the sins of the past have been forgiven. We can only be truly content when we know that everything that we are going through now is being overruled for our good. We can only find rest when we know that all future events cannot bring about our separation from His love. It is a peace that passes understanding.
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Prayer and Application:
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On old hymn says ‘There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God’. In our prayer time today, despite living in a world of turmoil and noise, take a few moments of restfulness with a heart full of gratitude, thanking Him for providing such a peace.
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