Romans 5:1-11 (NRSV)
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Chapter 5Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Verse 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Verse 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, Verse 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Verse 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Verse 6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. Verse 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Verse 9Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. Verse 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Verse 11But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Devotion
If it is true that we learn from our mistakes, then I am an extremely educated person. Paul calls this process character building. I call it painful! No matter the blunder, I am constantly amazed by the grace of forgiveness my family, friends and colleagues show me. In this way they act as stewards of the gift of grace that Christ bestowed upon us by his death. His absolution of all our sins frees us from the pain and shame that shackles us. We are free to be God’s instruments of peace and grace.
Prayer
Healing Savior, broken as we are, you have healed us by your grace. Help us to live grace-filled lives that speak to others in the same loving way your life, and death, touched us. Amen.