A Devotional Thought from Romans 5:1–11
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 5:1–11
My friends and family are probably pretty tired of hearing me talk about those two times I went on a cruise. I suppose it is a bit annoying to have so many stories start with, “One time, on that cruise…”
Anyway, one day on that cruise, I learned a spiritual lesson.
I really did have more than a good time on those trips. I would wake every morning and run to see what shade of blue the ocean water was that day. It seemed that every day provided a new beautiful shade of blue. I would look out over the water and ponder my Creator. I know, you have read where I said that already so here is something new that blessed my heart.
The food!
I would go to eat pizza at 1 am because I could. Do you know the wonderful feeling of being able to enjoy fresh pizza at 1am?
I do!
Our family would go to the more formal dinning hall for dinner and really enjoyed that too. We would order something new and exciting every night. It was difficult for me to choose between the options but I would make my choice. I enjoyed it every single time. One day we were asked to join a couple that had more experience with cruise life and they told me something that I had not been previously made aware. I didn’t have to choose just one entree.
Are you kidding? I could get the lobster and the prime rib?
After that life changing lesson, my already wonderful experience was made better.
My son ate 4 lobsters, 4 prime ribs, two desserts and waddled happily to our cabin with a smile on his face! I won’t tell you what I consumed. Ok, this is not a lesson on my gluttony. I will save that for another post.
This is a lesson on getting more than you thought you had available to you.
In today’s passage the Apostle Paul tells us that we can have peace with God.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Why would we need peace with God? Our deliberate disobedience has put us at odds with our creator
Psalm 7:11 …God is angry with the wicked every day.
Our sin is an affront to almighty God who will not allow it to go unpunished. In the substitutionary death of Jesus, the anger of God is appeased, our guilt is removed from our record and replaced with the goodness of Christ. We who come to God through his Son can now enjoy peace with God.
How many times have we failed to understand this peace? How many times have we assumed that he was angry with that thought, that act that we have committed never realizing that peace is made and our God is not angry with us? My sin is great but my Savior is greater!
That isn’t all! Not only is God at peace with us, we have access to him too!
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
To know that God is not angry with my sin is an undeserved blessing but my Lord has provided so much more than just a “get out of Hell free card”. Through his reconciliation I now have access to my God. I have been made a member of the family.
I read somewhere that during the civil war a person in need of help was led past the guards into the presence of the president. How did that person gain such privileged access? The one leading him was Tad Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln. Jesus, God the Son has not only led us into the presence of his father but allowed us to claim his father as our own.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
So, are we sometimes like I was on my cruise? Are we enjoying some of the privileges but not all? Not only do we have peace with God but unlimited access to our Father.
Let these truths sink in and keep going back for more!
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