Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I'm so excited for today's Verse of the Day, because it's one that really is near and dear to my heart.
It comes from Romans chapter 3, verse 22. Paul writes, "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."
When Life Gets Difficult
The first thought that comes to my mind is how difficult it can be in the world we live in. Sometimes we're trying to navigate this life, this Christian life, the life that God has created us for, and then those difficulties come. Some of you are listening to the sound of my voice when I read this verse, and you're saying things like, well, that's easy for you to say, but you don't know my past. You don't know where I come from. You don't know the choices I made. It's so easy for everyone else, but it's so difficult for me.
No. First of all, that's not true. Second of all, that's why this passage of Scripture and understanding it is so important.
Who Is This Really For?
If I take you back, this is written to the Roman church. When Paul was talking to them, he was dealing with some internal conflict because of the traditions of the Jews versus the Gentiles, who this whole faith thing was new to. There was all this conflict: Who is this really for? Who has the ability to really be a part of the family of God and our Christian faith? This is where Paul said, hey, guys, listen to me. All of us are made right. Not Jews, not Gentiles. All of us are made right by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
All Means All
Guess what? When he says all, all means all. You know who that includes? You, me, your family, your friends, your coworkers. All of us are made right by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone.
Yes, that includes you, who maybe doesn't feel good enough. Yes, that includes you, who maybe doesn't feel you're doing enough. Maybe it's for you, who feels like everyone's so much better at this faith journey than you. Why is it so difficult in the face of the adversities that you are facing in your life? Well, that's the enemy trying to do his job, but you don't have to worry about him, because Paul is reminding us that you are made right by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.
It's for You
This truth for all of us who believe is for every one of us. It's for you. It's for me. It's for all of us. It's for you, no matter where you've been, no matter where you come from, no matter what your background is. This verse speaks to God's heart for us as believers, which is for us to be one, to be unified through the sacrifice that He made for all of us.
Who Do You Need to Remind?
We get to model for the world what this truly looks like by bringing all of our brothers and sisters along, reminding everyone. Maybe think of a friend who you need to remind. If it's not you and you feel pretty good right now, who's a friend you need to remind, hey, this is for you too? Maybe there's someone that you need to encourage that just needs a positive word, a reminder that Jesus loves them today and that His love is as much for them as it is for you.
Thank God for this beautiful truth and this fact and this gift that He's given us of salvation through His sacrifice and His love for us all.
