Scripture
Romans 4:13-15 (NIV)
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Observation
How am I today? In my walk with the Lord, where is my spiritual barometer? What is the measure that I can use today to see how well I am living according to the word of God? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5 tells me so. A good tree bears good fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (Matthew 7).
I may try and try but as much as I try, I cannot make myself be the man of God that I want to be. I just can’t. The more that I try, the more that I look at my behavior, the more it seems that I fail. What is this law before me? What am I trying to do? What do I believe and why do I believe it? Am I going to Heaven? Am I good enough?
I Am, tells me that He has done it. He has delivered me. He is good. He is righteous. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The First and the Last. The Bright Morning Star. He has done it.
He tells me right here, “the law brings wrath.” Every day I pray and I pray. I hope and hope that today I will do better. Oh, it doesn’t seem like it. I don’t focus on it that much. But I am focusing on it, aren’t I? Ten years ago I was trying to “turn over a new leaf” and the Lord told me that I cannot be saved by works. I cannot re-pay Him for what He did on the Cross.
Aren’t I to resist temptation? Aren’t I to try? With what power can I resist? What power do I have? If I could save myself by my hand then wouldn’t I be saved? Wouldn’t I be walking in freedom? I am to flee from temptation. I am to trust in the Lord. I am, to trust. In. The. Lord. Who died for me? Did I die for me? No, Jesus died for me. I am to die, every day, by giving my trust to the Lord. I can turn from the world but it howls and screams at me. It begs me for attention.
Sin, so sultry,
speaks. Subtle
stabs seeking…
I write that the Lord may use me. That they may be saved. They need to know. Who am I but a speck in the mighty wind of life? Who will see me? Who will hear my voice, drowned out by howling gusts? I am tiny. I am insignificant… I am the righteousness of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I am a man of God. I am free. I am healed. I am saved by the Blood. I am an ambassador of Christ. I am significant because I am known by God. He who created all things knows my name and He died for me. That I might be with Him, for eternity.
I cannot make it happen. I can not do it. It’s already been done. This is faith. This is the way. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I will walk today, in the victory. I will fall, I will scrape my knees and, on my knees, I will lift my hands to God Almighty and I will praise Him! He has cleansed me! He has broken the chains that bind me. I will stand on the Rock with bloody knees, my chains a memory, and savor Him. My Lord. My Redeemer. My Savior and King.
Application
I will trust in the Lord.
Prayer
Father, I am amazed by you. I thank you for who you are. Thank you for speaking to me today and opening my ears to hear you. Please help me to trust you. Please help me to believe You. Let it sink into all that I am and leave puddles of faith around me. I stand on Your word and I believe it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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