Reflection from Romans 3:21-31
When I was engaging in my personal devotion, in my devotional time with my wife, in my youth group, in my men’s group, and in my attempts for evangelism, we all seemed to have no fear of God. Yes, we do preach on the Gospel message, but not getting the tough message of the wrath of God. We worry more about our own health, wealth, family, comfort, jobs, education… than being right before God. What makes me different than the oikos I am praying for and trying to share the Gospel with?
Today’s Words from God reminds me of the real spiritual condition of everyone on earth. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Like prisoners on death row, all people are guilty, condemned and awaiting the execution of God’s wrath. They sit silently in the miserable darkness of their cell, all hope extinguished. I know how to get pardoned. I get pardoned by putting my trust in Christ through repenting from our sins and obeying our master Jesus Christ. The message of God’s grace become real to me when I surrender my brokenness and being real to God. The impact of God’s Words in my life right now is that it is rebuking and getting me back on the path that God wants me to be on.
I thank God for revealing where I should go as I engage in 260 devotion this morning. As I prepare the work of proclaiming the Gospel to the peoples, I am reminded to preach the message of God’s wrath and righteousness. I grow in the love for the Gospel by realizing and being convicted of what God did to save me from my real spiritual condition. Finally, as I reflected on all the activities on the past thanksgiving weekend, there were church meetings, family gatherings, friends gathering, outreach nights, fellowship with church families… I realized how I am very different than the brothers and sisters in our church in terms of gifts and personality. We are all connected because we are righteous before God. With the foundation of being right before God, we can face the challenges of ministry and life.