Daily Devotion-November 14, 2023

Daily Devotion-November 14, 2023

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes—to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed by faith, for faith, just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray that You would send us Your Holy Spirit so that we understand what your gospel is. So many do not know You, and they reject Your love and mercy, seeing You as a violent and angry God taking Your punishment out on all who break Your rules. When someone refuses You, their final moment will be condemned; there is no chance for a do-over.

However, this is not Your desire for people to be condemned; You tell us in Your Word that You would have all people come to know, believe, and trust in You to have eternal life and salvation. You made salvation available for all people—the Jews first and then the Greeks (non-Jews.) Your gospel is Your plan of salvation for all people. You promised in the Old Testament a Savior would come to us, and that was Your Son, Jesus. He went to the cross in our place and suffered for every sin so that Jesus’ forgiveness restores all who believe in Him to You. Forgiveness is the power of salvation for everyone who believes and holds on to Christ. Your Holy Spirit reveals it by faith through the means of grace—Your Word, baptism, and the holy Supper. Our salvation is delivered by faith in Jesus, which restores us to You.

So, as Paul wrote to the Roman congregations, “The righteous will live by faith.” May we live by love; give us the desire to live according to Your Word, loving You and others as You have loved us and keeping Your commandments. With our hearts filled with love, give us the courage not to be ashamed of your gospel and share the good news of Your love and forgiveness with those we meet. Amen.

Written through Pastor Roger Emmons

No one is without sin, so Jesus suffered and died to remove your every sin, that by believing in him, you will have eternal life. While there is shame in our sins, that is gone because Jesus has forgiven and removed it all.