Speed Limits

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day two)

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. vs. 21

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have know what sin was except through the law. Romans 7:7

70, 75, 80, 85 – don’t you just love Texas highways? Somebody seems to have figured out that if you have 800+ miles of interstate from East to West, you will be helped to get where you are going if you can get on down the road. For this, I am grateful. But why do those signs exist? Clearly they are they to remind, or sometimes simply inform you of how fast you are legally allowed to go as you travel. So, if you are at or below those speeds does that make you a good driver? No, it just means you obeyed that particular law. Good driving is about courtesy, defensive driving, awareness in addition to abiding by the rules of the road. The idea of abolishing those rules would be foolish.

The law continues to be our guide for moral behavior, but it is insufficient on its own to guarantee salvation. Keeping the law is an essential step in nourishing our faith. Together they build our story of being a good driver, or Christian.

Work

Re:Verse reading–Romans 2:1-29 (day six)

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:29

Paul makes it increasingly clear that we are all in trouble. We are idolaters, all of us; and even those of us who look the part, we too have rejected God for the praise of men. He then introduces the type of person that God seeks, one who is concerned more about the affections of their heart, then the one putting on airs. This one doesn’t live for the approval of men, but lives to worship God in all of life. Finally he tells us how such a person takes shape, “by the Spirit.” The Spirit of God does the work of reshaping the human heart through faith in the Gospel. The key to living a life of faith is just that-faith! It is not working harder, or beating yourself up over past sins (penance), it’s not adding another Bible study to your schedule, no, it is none of those things. Live from faith to faith forever resting in God’s approval of you because of the work of His Son! Have faith in the Gospel, and let the Spirit of God do the hard work of reshaping your heart!