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March 9 Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name’s sake. Romans 1:5. Receiving all that Christ has to offer properly begins the Christian life. There is no other way to begin than by faith—and it will always end that same way. God’s grace is made for our receiving. It cannot be mixed with Law or fleshly efforts to achieve God’s goals. It is made to achieve God’s goals. It is believed that it is this verse grabbed the heart and soul of Martin Luther as he prepared to ascend the steps of the temple to worship. He was never again to be the same, and he rushed home to write his thesis about grace and faith. Yes, God is bent upon bring about the obedience of faith, as opposed to the ministry of death that is associated with the Law. Obedience springing from our faith is the love response that God seeks. When our hearts are changed in response to our acceptance of Jesus into our lives, we find that there are many things we will do because we desire to do them—not because we have to do them. The result is that we become apostles, God’s ambassadors, to reach the world for His name’s sake. Father, we love and praise You for instilling within us the life of faith. The object of our faith is Jesus. All of His character and nature are ours by faith. We share in His inheritance by faith. Each step of our walk today will be guided by faith. Thank You and Amen. . |
