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Day 24: Romans 3/Psalm 46
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Friday March 19, 2004
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...for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3: 23-24 (New International Version)
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Guilty! –
Forgiven!
Our society, at least here in the United States, is one of
self-indulgence that's ever-seeking to “feel good.” We are taught to
have positive “self talk,” to constantly chant positive affirmations
and that “I’m okay, you’re okay.” There is nothing wrong with this in
and of itself, although alone, it can only be partially successful. The
Bible teaches us that we are God’s creation and made in His image. We
are all unique and He loves us all.
The major problem
with the “feel good” approach is that we are misdirected in who the
Justifier is. This misconception is not only one of the secular world,
but often happens in the church when we forget why justification was
needed. We forget that we are not able on our own to achieve
redemption. We forget that “works,” including positive self-talk and
good deeds, can’t do so.
The memorization
verse for this week points out very clearly that all have
sinned. If we forget to look at the laws of the Old Testament, we
forget how woefully powerless we are to live up to them on our own. If
we forget how really sinful our nature is, we devalue and lessen the
enormous gift of Jesus dying on the cross. We were convicted by God of
our sins, and we could only be redeemed by a
moral, just God through the death of Jesus on the cross. “God doesn’t
love us because Christ died on the cross, rather, Christ died on the
cross because God loves us.”
Today’s
Prayer:
Lord, point out to me my sins so that I can confess them to you and
accept your forgiveness. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. It is
only through your death that I may live. Amen.
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Memory Verse of the Week:
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:23-24 (New International Version)
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For a complete
listing of all the previous devotionals in this "50 Day
Experience," click here.
To read the chapter or psalm of the day online, click on one of the following
links:
o
Romans
3
o
Psalm
46
Darrell Rolen, rolen@cincyvineyard.com,
Pastor of the West Central Zone at VCC
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