Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:1-5.
“1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:1-5.
———————-
We can not fully appreciate what it means that “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”, without understanding in contrast the wrath of God against the wicked which means all those without God’s Son Jesus Christ. “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Ephesians 2:3.
“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.” Psalm 5:4-6.
Listen to the graphic description of God’s wrath in Isaiah 34:1-3!
“1 Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples!
Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it.
2 For the LORD’S indignation is against all the nations,
And His wrath against all their armies;
He has utterly destroyed them,
He has given them over to slaughter.
3 So their slain will be thrown out,
And their corpses will give off their stench,
And the mountains will be drenched with their blood.” Isaiah 34:1-3.
Take warning! Show respect and bow down to the Lordship of God’s Son Jesus Christ!
“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.
The Scripture for today contains great hope for those who do take refuge in Christ. They escape God’s wrath. They have peace with God.
But, even more than the absence of God’s wrath, the results of the justification by faith in Jesus Christ include “the love of God (which) has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” It would be good enough if we could just live out our lives at peace without the wrath of God against us, but it is truly amazing and overflowing to receive God’s love and the Holy Spirit, God Himself! It is almost too good to be true.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. And so, that final part of today’s Scripture makes sense, that God uses our tribulations to bring about perseverance, proven character, and hope.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 