Friday September 18, 2020

Today’s Reading: Romans 3:18-24

 For no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, for through the law [comes] the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed-attested by the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 3:20-21

Reflection: God’s Law shows us our need for God. From the beginning, the Law has shown God’s Holy Standard of perfection for all people. But because of our sin, this has presented a problem for us: we cannot meet the standard. Because of our sin, we are not able to obey the Law perfectly by ourselves. God’s standard shown through His Law reveals that the way we live – how we think, speak, act – falls vastly short of the way God designed us to live. The Law is like a mirror, giving us a clear picture of ourselves. It shows us that we are sinners. It shows us that we need God’s help to live to His Holy Standard.

When our sin is exposed by the Law, our need for God is also exposed. It is only when we see our problem that we can begin to seek a real solution. Because of our sinful state, we cannot find the resolution to sin from within ourselves. Because of the sinfulness of all people, we cannot ask others for their help to make us right by God either. Neither can we ask God to simply change the Law for us, to lower His Holy Standard and violate His own Justice for the sake of those who have done wrong before Him and others. But the Good News is that God not only upholds His Standard, He also abides by it and fulfills it through Jesus and His Death on the Cross. He pays the penalty for sin that we could never pay. He removes sin from us and covers us in His righteousness. Through Jesus, we can meet God’s Holy Standard.

Praise God that the magnitude of this great Truth is highlighted by the reality of the Law. Praise God for His Law, which has exposed my desperate need for Him. Praise God for His Law, which has not only showed my sin, but led me to seek God’s Salvation.

Prayer: Merciful God, You showed me my need for You through Your Law, which I could not abide by on my own. Even today, I fall vastly short of Your Glory. Forgive me for my sin, which keeps me from being righteous in Your sight. I see my need for Jesus and thank You that You have saved me in my great need. I am free to live for You because of all You have done for me. Thank You Lord. I give You praise in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Romans 3:9-31; 1 Samuel 12; Psalm 57