Friday 13 April 2018

Psalm: Psalm 119:129-144

Background

Paul is keen to remind his readers that we have all sinned and therefore need to reconcile ourselves to God. We do this through repentance and seeking forgiveness.

Being made right with God through faith and not law is the theme of this part of Paul's letter to the Romans. Rome was caught up in obeying the law, and not obeying God. However, God was calling them to do good through faith. And in verse 26, Paul explains that God gave Jesus to us as an example of how we should be.

God gave us Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice of atonement - meaning God has let all past sins go unpunished as here is Christ to take them all for us, in order to demonstrate God’s love for those people at that time. However, Paul goes on to explain in verse 28 that people must now be reconciled to God through faith. Faith that God’s Son was the ultimate sacrifice, that through the blood of Christ (his death on the cross) we are healed of our sins. That we do this all through faith, by believing.

The beauty of being a Christian is that it is a unique and individual relationship that we have with God, with Jesus. No one can ever tell you that your faith is wrong, inadequate or not good enough because it is your relationship – unique, personal and precious. Therefore, when Paul invites us today to be made right with God, we are called to reflect much deeper, because according to Romans 4:4-5 it is not good works that make us right with God, it runs deeper than at and it is much more personal. It is between you and God.

Consider how you can make yourself right with God, only you have the answer. You know what it is in your life that builds a gap between you and God. It could be anything, overindulgence with social media, gluttonous gossiping, judging others as if you are perfect and blameless in God’s sight or maybe even it is wrathful outbursts and harmful words said during a church meeting. Over time, through our faith, we can work towards changing those circumstances in order to be more Christlike, knowing that we are human and by no means perfect.

To Ponder

• How to make things right: a forgiveness activity. Take a stone or pebble and let it represent for you something you want to say sorry to God for, place it in a bowl of water and let it sink, never take it up again. Say a pray as you reflect on your salvation by faith.
• In acknowledgement of forgiveness, how can you act differently? How can you humble yourself before the Lord and take a moment to appreciate the salvation that comes through faith?
• Listen to the song Blood of Jesus by Myron Butler.