Intro: It is fascinating to me just how “real and living” the Word of God is for believers. The Word offers revelations that are endless and the scope of opportunities and applications it presents are vast. Consider how beautiful the gift of the Word is in its “bigness,” because it can reach every heart in practical ways no matter how diverse the people. God’s Word contains personal stories of how the Anointed One has revealed His Love throughout history to touch the world. Every unique human being has the invitation to receive and to demonstrate God’s Love in word and action; there are no limits for how it is done in God’s Anointed One.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants us to know the human state before Christ comes to set up his Kingdom in our hearts. We are helpless, weak, and powerless to save ourselves! Wow, let that soak in for just a minute. In spite of how messed up we can be as a human creation, Christ died for us so he could exchange that mess for a Kingdom ministry. That ministry is birthed from the inside out; our hearts become the womb of Love. If we will die to our selfish fleshly demands we can live the resurrection life in Christ’s Anointed Love. If you have invited Jesus into your heart to be the Lord of your life, you are set up for victory so let that JOY fill you. Look for someone who needs Christ’s love and share him, today.
Romans 5:6-11
6 For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves.
7 Now, would anyone dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. 8 But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!
9 And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. 10 So if while we were still enemies, God fully reconciled [exchanged] us to himself through the death of his Son, then something greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion!
11 And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy [boasting] in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ!
Prayer: Lord, there are just so many ways you share the gospel every day with your children. Thank you for the reminder today of the great exchange you offer every human heart. May more people in your world, choose you and accept your offer today! In Jesus’ name. Amen.