Posts Tagged With: devotion

Reflection on Romans 5:5-11

Romans 5:5-11
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.
For while we were still helpless,
Christ died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
For only with difficulty will one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might be willing to die.

But God proves his love for us
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
And not only that,
but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Reflection for Today on Romans
From the very first time I read Romans 5:5, I have loved that verse.  First of all, I love the fact that Paul tells us that “hope does not disappoint.” Of course this does not mean that everything in life will work out as we wish it would or as we plan for it to, but it does mean for me that there is more to the workings of this world and life than I can see.  It also means that there is a benevolent deity standing behind it all.  This truth is attested to by Paul when he adds, “because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”  God’s love for me sustains me in my darkest times, and I know that the Spirit of God is always with me.  These two facts allow, even cause, me to have and keep hope in this crazy world.

Quote for Today
“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.” – George Iles

Categories: 45-Romans, George Iles, hope, Paraphrase, Quote, Reflection | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reflection on 1 John 3:1-3

1 John 3:1-3

See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we should be called children of God.
Yet so we are.
Therefore the world does not know us
because it did not know him.
Beloved, now we are God’s children;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope in him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.

Reflection for Today

You are a child of God.  There is nothing else more important in your life than this simple fact.  Nothing.  You are loved by the Creator of the Universe, who has claimed you as your as his own.  Remember this always.

Quote for Today

“As a child of God, I am greater than anything that can happen to me.” – Abdul Kalam

Categories: 62-1 John, Paraphrase, Quote, Reflection | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reflection on Philippians 1:1-11

Philippians 1:1-11

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God upon my every remembrance of you,
always praying every prayer of mine with joy
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
I am convinced of this:
that he who began a good work in you
will accomplish it by the day of Jesus Christ.
It is right for me to think this way about you all,
because I hold you in my heart,
for both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,
you are companions in my grace.

For God is my witness,
how intensely I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
So this I pray,
that your love may increase yet more and more
with full knowledge and all discernment
that you may determine what is excellent,
so that you may be pure and faultless at the day of Christ,
being filled with the fruit righteousness for the sake of Jesus Christ
and for the glory and praise of God.

Reflection for Today on Philippians

“I am convinced of this: that he who began a good work in you will accomplish it by the day of Jesus Christ.”

There’s the old saying “Be patient with me; God isn’t finished with me yet.” The truth of this is evident in both what Paul writes in this passage as well as in our own lived experience.  And for this truth, I am truly grateful.  I thank God every day that he is not finished with me.  There are still too many flaws and imperfections yet in me, and I pray that God will ultimately rid me of them.  This passage gives me hope that this is actually being accomplished in my life.

Quote for Today
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Categories: 50-Philippians, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Paraphrase, perfection, Quote | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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