Thursday Reading: Romans 9:30-33
Key Verse: Romans 9:31
31 But Israel, who followed after a law of righteousness did not arrive at a law of righteousness.
Devotion:
Herein we have the difference between justification by the law and by faith. The Jews worked hard at being justified by the law in that they tried hard to follow the law and to continue in that law. What they found was that they could not keep that law and on too many occasions went against God because they wanted to keep the law as they saw it rather than what God demanded. When the apostles went preaching the gospel to others (such as the Romans) they were able to gain righteousness by faith; by believing on Christ and following the gospel.
The Jews knew the scriptures and they tried to justify themselves because God had told them that they were the chosen people. Instead of continuing to bow to God and His Word, they upheld the old traditions and the old law through works and not through faith. Back in years past they had to show faith by believing that God would save them from others in wars and such like. When they upheld their faith, they won through. But now they were basing their religion on the law and not what was happening in front of them. They were not coming humbly before God but were basing things on observing precepts and ceremonies of the laws written down by Moses.
That stumbling block will continue to be there and many Jews will continue to be offended by our belief that Christ is God and that He is our Saviour. The truth is there to be seen in God’s Word and will continue to be faithfully told by many generations to come, right up until the time when Christ Himself will return with a trump and a shout! We need to remain firm in our faith that Christ has redeemed us with His blood and that we will be presented guiltless before God by virtue of the fact that we have trusted Christ to be our Advocate. We will not be ashamed then and we should therefore not be ashamed now of the gospel of Christ.
Points to Ponder:
What do you base your life on?
Are you trusting firmly in Christ?
