Today’s Reading: Romans 9:30-33
As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Romans 9:33
Reflection
We cannot earn righteousness by our own works. We can only freely receive righteousness by believing and trusting in the Work of Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul compares the faith of the Gentiles – who have received righteousness by faith and belief in God through Jesus – with the works of Israel – who have tried to obtain their own righteousness without God. Paul says that those who believe in and accept what Jesus has done to fulfill the Law are the ones who receive God’s righteousness for themselves. By upholding Jesus as the only One Who is righteous, they are given His righteousness to have for themselves. People of Israel, however, have tried to obtain their own righteousness, and have not accepted the Work that Jesus already did. They fail to see that Jesus demonstrated His righteousness by fulfilling all that the Law required of all people. They try to earn their own righteousness. Jesus the Cornerstone of faith, the only Righteous One, then becomes to them a stumbling block for these people who do not believe and trust in Him.
Reflection Questions:
-Paul says that the Israelites who tried to earn righteousness did not achieve their goal. Why were they not able to achieve righteousness?
– What is the difference between “pursuing righteousness” and “obtain[ing]” it by faith? How do we obtain the righteousness we need from God?
Prayer
Lord God, I rest in Your righteousness. I am in need of it desperately because I fall short of Your glory everyday. I sin before You and am unrighteous without the righteousness You have so freely given to me. Please Lord, may the reminder of Your righteousness compel me to go forward confident in all that You have provided to me. Help me to live more fully in faith in You. I pray this prayer in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Romans 9:30-10:21; 1 Samuel 19; Psalm 64
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