The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Friday, January 13, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, one of the most common greetings and closings of the Apostle Paul’s letters are the words, “grace and peace be yours….” Thank You for your grace, which is the only source of peace—lasting peace—in life! I pray today that You will fill me with Your grace that as I think, speak and act, I may do so out of a heart that is at peace, and out of a life that is assured that in You and You alone I am sufficient. Keep me from any fear or doubt about my adequacy to be Your child and servant and remind me that it is never about me—it’s always about You. Your grace is, indeed, sufficient to meet all my needs. I pray that as You supply Your grace in abundant measure that I will share it with my family, friends and all I come into contact with this day. Glorify Yourself in my life today and always. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ who is the source of all grace! Amen.
God’s Word Today—Romans 1:1-7
1This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David’s royal family line. 4And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. 5Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
6You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people.
May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on God’s Word
Have you ever considered that God’s grace is the source of all peace? Unless we know the power of God’s grace in our lives to forgive the sin that binds us and holds us liable to the fires of judgment, there can be no true peace in our lives! When Jesus died on the cross, He certainly paid the debt of sin that each of us owes to God, but the “vehicle” of that payment is God’s grace.
In what ways has God’s grace been evident in your life recently?
How does God’s grace bring peace in your life?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Take the time to look at the salutation and closing of each of Paul’s letters in the New Testament. Note how often the phrase “grace and peace” occurs. Compare it to the occurrence in Romans 1:7. What are the similarities and differences. (Note: This may take a bit of time, but it is well worth the effort, as it shows how vital God’s grace and peace are in our lives.)
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
What does God’s granting of grace to us—which is His unmerited favor—say about His purpose for us?
When we experience God’s grace and peace, how does that help us to more fully understand God’s purpose for us?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Take a moment right now to thank God for providing His grace in our lives….
Take a moment right now to thank God for the peace that comes when we are assured that our sins have been forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross.
List several ways that God’s grace and peace are part of your life right now AND what you need to do to experience that grace and peace in fuller measure.
Thoughts - “May Grace and Peace Be Yours”
What greater blessing could Paul wish for anyone than that the grace and peace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ would be theirs? Without God’s grace there is no life that is truly life! Without God’s grace the “peace that passes all human understanding,” which Paul writes about in another of his letters eludes us. Grace and peace are always found together in the New Testament, because as we have noted God’s grace brings peace to our lives. You will never read: may peace and grace be yours, because peace doesn’t come through effort, but through grace. When we’re fearful, when peace won’t come in our lives, there is nothing we can DO to gain it. Peace is a by-product of grace and as such, it is only when we are in a right relationship with Jesus Christ, receiving His grace as our spiritual “air supply” for living that we will know God’s peace. You may have seen the old bumper sticker:
No God. No peace.
Know God. Know peace.
It’s true, because when we KNOW God, not just when we know about Him, but when we actually know Him as Savior and Lord, through Jesus, we receive His grace and that brings peace. Pause again right now and thank God for His great grace, and for the peace that comes when we have received it!
This Week’s Memory Verse:
They will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name. Romans 1:5b