Bible League: Living His Word For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.— Romans 5:10 ESV A while ago, I was reading in Romans 5, and the words there reminded me of one of my favorite stories from the gospel of Luke. A Pharisee has invited Jesus to dinner, and while they are visiting together, a "sinful" woman comes in and begins to wash Jesus' feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing His feet with ointment. Jesus' host is shocked, but Jesus answers his critique by telling a parable about a great debtor who is forgiven by his moneylender. Jesus applies the parable with this line: "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7:36-50). Now the reader must be careful to see that it is not the show of her love that earns her forgiveness. Jesus clarifies that in His mini-parable about the debtors. First the debts are forgiven, then the love comes. Jesus clarifies it further in verse 50, where He says to the woman, "Your faith has saved you." As we study the Bible, we know God better. As we know His holiness better, we see the contrast of our sin more clearly. However, if the Holy Spirit has worked in us, our sin does not push us away from God, but pulls us toward him. Like the woman in the story, when we are forgiven, we will fall to our knees and kiss Jesus' feet in gratitude for the forgiveness we have been given—as a free gift—through his death and resurrection. Now it was a single word, "much," that in my mind connected this passage with Romans 5:5-11. In this passage, the word reconciled is repeated a few times. When you reconcile your check book, you are matching your records (which may contain errors) with the bank's error-free records. As we are reconciled to God, our ledger is made to match that of Christ's—debt free! But another definition is to restore friendship and harmony. We are told in verse 10 that while we were still God's enemies, we were reconciled to him. And since we are justified by Christ's death, "much more... shall we be saved by his life." Justification from the mountains of sins that people have piled up over thousands of years is no small thing, but God says "much more" comes in the salvation life. Verse 11 says, more than reconciliation and salvation, we rejoice in God! We must not be rigid like that Pharisee—we must move beyond the academics of redemption and experience the joy that comes from the realization of what we've been saved to. Life in Christ is about the "much more!" I propose that some of the tears wept by the woman in Luke 7 were tears of sorrow at what she'd been saved from, but most were tears of joy for what she'd been saved to! She had been forgiven much so she loved much. May we as well love much and be inspired to offer our lives for kingdom service because of the deep gratitude and joy that flows from the salvation life that is ours. By Grace Barnes, Bible League International volunteer, Michigan U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingZechariah 4, 5, 6 Zechariah 4 -- The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees Foreshow Success of Zerubbabel's Foundation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 5 -- The Flying Scroll; The Woman in a Basket NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 6 -- The Vision of the Four Chariots; The Symbolic Crowns of Joshua NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 18 Revelation 18 -- Babylon Is Fallen; Lament over Her NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.Insight God may have seemed slow to these believers as they faced persecution every day and longed to be delivered. But God is not slow; he just is not on our timetable. Jesus is waiting so that more sinners will repent and turn to him. Challenge We must not sit and wait for Christ to return, but we should live with the realization that time is short and that we have important work to do. Be ready to meet Christ any time, even today; yet plan your course of service as though he may not return for many years. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Job 8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire?The rush is spongy and hollow, and even so is a hypocrite; there is no substance or stability in him. It is shaken to and fro in every wind just as formalists yield to every influence; for this reason the rush is not broken by the tempest, neither are hypocrites troubled with persecution. I would not willingly be a deceiver or be deceived; perhaps the text for this day may help me to try myself whether I be a hypocrite or no. The rush by nature lives in water, and owes its very existence to the mire and moisture wherein it has taken root; let the mire become dry, and the rush withers very quickly. Its greenness is absolutely dependent upon circumstances, a present abundance of water makes it flourish, and a drought destroys it at once. Is this my case? Do I only serve God when I am in good company, or when religion is profitable and respectable? Do I love the Lord only when temporal comforts are received from his hands? If so I am a base hypocrite, and like the withering rush, I shall perish when death deprives me of outward joys. But can I honestly assert that when bodily comforts have been few, and my surroundings have been rather adverse to grace than at all helpful to it, I have still held fast my integrity? then have I hope that there is genuine vital godliness in me. The rush cannot grow without mire, but plants of the Lord's right hand planting can and do flourish even in the year of drought. A godly man often grows best when his worldly circumstances decay. He who follows Christ for his bag is a Judas; they who follow for loaves and fishes are children of the devil; but they who attend him out of love to himself are his own beloved ones. Lord, let me find my life in thee, and not in the mire of this world's favor or gain. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Corinthians 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 10:34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, Job 3:17 "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. 2 Corinthians 5:4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Revelation 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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