Romans 5:1-5 (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.
Devotion
Step Ten of the Twelve Steps of AA reads, “Continued to take personal inventory, and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” Fr. Richard Rohr, in “Breathing Underwater,” reflecting on the Twelve Steps, says this is possible because God has found us acceptable. There’s nothing to hide, because, as Psalm 139 tells us, God knows our deepest thoughts and self. Denial is a waste of energy. From God’s standpoint, there is peace between each of us and God. (Vs 1). The practical implication? We are free to apologize and say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”. Years ago, I bawled out my step daughter about something. The next day, I discovered I was wrong. I owed her an apology, but I didn’t do it. My sinful self had forgotten that I was justified. Today, making amends is needed.
Prayer
God, make it real in me, in us, that we are acceptable to you. Help us to live out that truth. Amen.
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