Page 31 - Livin Light Issue 81

Friday July 7 - Everyone’s included
Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Romans 3:29
It was hard for some Jewish Christians to accept that God welcomes everyone, not restricting his gift of salvation and grace just to his ‘chosen people’. Paul, a Jew dramatically converted and commissioned by Christ, said, ‘I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth’ (1 Timothy 2:7). In response to his preaching, thousands of non-Jews came to faith in Jesus and experienced the baptism of the Spirit. This ‘righteousness through faith’ really was available to anyone who called on the name of Jesus!
These non-Jewish believers, with little or no previous knowledge of or allegiance to God, were accepted on an equal footing. Israel had a long history of being chosen, being taken out of Egypt through the Red Sea, across the desert into the Promised Land and hearing from generations of prophets. Proud of their heritage, some Jews were insistent on keeping the old laws about circumcision and not eating certain foods. But Christ’s coming marked a new beginning. Now keeping these regulations was obsolete; God equally welcomed Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free! All were now one in Christ Jesus.
The Church consists of people from every tribe, nation, culture and language, a glorious multi-faceted family destined to enjoy God forever and live in his presence. But perhaps we are guilty of prejudice ourselves, questioning why certain people or groups are included.
Heavenly Father of us all, please help us to be like you, not excluding others but rejoicing that whoever believes in Christ can enter your kingdom! Amen.
Saturday July 8 - Faith first, then obedience
Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Romans 3:31
While some insisted on sticking to their religious regulations, other new Christians reckoned that being forgiven of their sin through grace meant they could do whatever they liked, without worrying about God’s laws. Paul challenged the Galatian church where this had happened: ‘You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But do not use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature; instead, serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself”’ (Galatians 5:13-14).
Obeying the law cannot redeem us from sin – that liberation is only possible through faith in what Christ did for us on the cross. God loves us more than we could ever imagine and longs that we bring him our lives for him to bless. The Holy Spirit helps us, so the wonderful truth that we are God’s children begins to dawn on us! And then let us respond willingly by doing his will and turning from what is wrong.
We can pray to know more of the beauty, goodness and glory of our three-Persons-in- One God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He invites us all to join in the divine dance of joy, mercy and harmony of the Trinity, that began before time itself and continues for eternity. Grace has lifted us up beyond our failure to keep the law, to enjoy his love forever!
Heavenly Father, thank you for embracing us through grace to live with you forever! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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