The Devotional - R035

The Devotional

Comment:

We have monitors, gauges and mechanical governors to keep machinery in check and in this we keep “normal” what could turn into a desperately “abnormal” outcome. This is a credit to mankind in that he or she is capable of controlling his inventions thus causing increased productivity and ease of accomplishment. With all of this human effort we believe that we are controlling our destiny and pursuing life and peace for the neighborhood. Yet we are a failure, we are a failure to our loved ones, a failure to our communities, a failure to our home state, a failure to our homeland and last but FIRST; a failure to GOD. I do not have to repeat the above statement even though I would like too for in your heart, if you look you will see those failures; yet the fool will disagree! God sees us in this light, note if you will Jeremiah 17:5-13, the heart of mankind is “desperately wicked”. The Hebrew word in verse 9 for desperately wicked is anash meaning incurably sick. For some of us we feel crushed that God would think that we are humanly incurable. For me I say “Praise God” at least now I know why I think I am such a good guy on the outside but such a rat on the inside, and guess what. God has THE cure, another “Praise God”! 

Challenge: Romans 10:1-13

Speaking to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ the apostle Paul says “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel (literally them) is that they (his fellow countrymen) may be saved. It would be foolish for any child of God to think or pray otherwise! Yet we do; in our heart we condemn and punish our fellow countrymen, neighbors, friends and loved ones, but our outward heart, seen in the church of Jesus Christ, we pray for the same… hypocrite? Yes we are!

We can see that these people have a zeal for God, they go to church, but not according to knowledge, in other words these folks are ignorant of God’s Righteousness, thus they seek to establish their own righteousness. In that righteousness they are not submitting to God, but to themselves. Oh the wisdom of God expressed through the words of the apostle Paul in this epistle is overwhelmingly powerful, I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to study through these truths found in Romans.

Jesus/Messiah, He alone is the “Righteous requirement of the Law” He gives His Righteousness (sinless life) to everyone who believes. God is Awesome! His calling and election is to anyone, or everyone who believes. Are you believing God’s call and are you elected into His family? Has faith in God allowed you to enter into the kingdom of God? For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking (self-righteousness), but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit – Romans 14:17.

Moses writes that the righteous requirement of the Law is that the man who practices this requirement must be perfect in doing the Law, again “Praise God” that there is One who is Perfectly Righteous – Jesus and He forever LIVES and the righteousness of our Faith in Him is the righteousness requirement and fulfillment of the Law for you and me. The apostle reveals this truth to us from the Old Testament, the New Testament is not written at this point in time as the apostle is one of the writers so when he says; “For the Scripture says” he is referring to the Old Testament, Isaiah 28:16.

The heart is desperate to do wickedness, yet God speaks daily to the hearts of all peoples, that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised HIM (Jesus/Messiah) from the dead, YOU will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness (the Law’s calling to righteousness) and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (the Law’s election to The Faith).

There is no distinction of being a Gentile or a Jew, Jesus/Messiah is LORD over all and whoever puts their trust in Him shall not be put to shame, whoever calls upon the Name of the LORD shall be SAVED! Praise God for such Good News.