Stark and Desperate

Daily Reading: Romans 5

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5.20-21, NIV)

Devotional Thought: The Law is so important.  But, not in the way we often think it is.  It is important to lead us to grace, to realize our stark and desperate need for a Savior.

I wonder if we are sometimes guilty of preaching law and ignoring grace.  Don’t misunderstand me:  It is certainly appropriate and necessary to have rules in our homes and laws in our land.  But how do we respond in those inevitable moments when the rules and laws (or The Law) are broken?  Do we ever use those opportunities to point out the impossibility of being perfect, and our need for a Savior?  None of us have perfectly kept The Law.  We need grace.  Do we show it? I always get a reaction from my girls when we are reading something in our devotion book that points out that their parents aren’t perfect either.  They know it already, but they feign ignorance!

Let’s talk more about grace with our kids.  Let’s talk more about grace with nonbelievers (they already know you aren’t perfect, by the way) – keeping in the forefront of our minds and speech the Law and the holy expectations God has for us; but also responding to failures with repentance and thanksgiving to the One who came to pay for our sins and make us righteous before the Lord.  After all, my need is stark and desperate.  Or, as Paul says in Galatians 2.21 (NIV), “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Jenny Wade

Prayer: “Grace!  Grace!  God's grace!  Grace that will pardon and cleanse from sin.  Grace!  Grace!  God's grace! Grace that is greater than all our sin!”  Amen.  (~[JW1] Julia Johnston)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 19.7-14

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.