Living With Love
So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s
wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting
in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 5:21 (NLT)
wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting
in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 5:21 (NLT)
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20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:20-6:11 (NLT)
Romans 5:20-6:11 (NLT)
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I was a new parent. Our little daughter, Linda, was full of life. She had so much to
learn and she had so much to teach me. I remember one day Linda, a 2 year old
toddler, got excited about the events of the day. She reacted with glee and at the
same time became unaware of what she was doing. The milk was spilled.
In a moment of unguarded and misguided response I blurted, “Linda, grow up!”
My wife Joyce looked up at me… and she smiled. Oops.
learn and she had so much to teach me. I remember one day Linda, a 2 year old
toddler, got excited about the events of the day. She reacted with glee and at the
same time became unaware of what she was doing. The milk was spilled.
In a moment of unguarded and misguided response I blurted, “Linda, grow up!”
My wife Joyce looked up at me… and she smiled. Oops.
Another day, and at about the same age, Linda was being zipped up in her snow
suit, rubber boots, hood and mittens. She exclaimed that she was getting
“all bungled up!” I had always thought of it as being bundled up, but she
was right. She was all bungled up and could hardly move.
suit, rubber boots, hood and mittens. She exclaimed that she was getting
“all bungled up!” I had always thought of it as being bundled up, but she
was right. She was all bungled up and could hardly move.
Linda is a mother herself now. She has grown up, but I just know she might still
spill the occasional drop of milk. When she makes a return visit to our home in the
north, she probably feels that being ‘all bungled up’ is an apt description still.
As we grow in our faith, we might not need to be told to put our winter clothes on,
nor do we expect to be told to be careful or we will spill something.
However, we do still need to put the clothes on, and we do still
need to be careful when we are carrying something.
The Scriptures teach us that the law was our instructor. It was especially suited to
us when we were not at a stage for determining the eventual outcome of specific
courses of action. When Paul says that we are no longer subject to the enslavement
of the law, he is not saying that it should be disregarded. In fact, the more we draw
closer in our relationship to God, the more important it becomes that we seek to
honour and please Him. People can get so ‘bungled up’ in the law when
it is necessary for them to ‘grow up.’
A cousin of mine used to tell the following story. A young bachelor hired a maid to
come to his home while he was away at work. He would leave a list of things that
spill the occasional drop of milk. When she makes a return visit to our home in the
north, she probably feels that being ‘all bungled up’ is an apt description still.
As we grow in our faith, we might not need to be told to put our winter clothes on,
nor do we expect to be told to be careful or we will spill something.
However, we do still need to put the clothes on, and we do still
need to be careful when we are carrying something.
The Scriptures teach us that the law was our instructor. It was especially suited to
us when we were not at a stage for determining the eventual outcome of specific
courses of action. When Paul says that we are no longer subject to the enslavement
of the law, he is not saying that it should be disregarded. In fact, the more we draw
closer in our relationship to God, the more important it becomes that we seek to
honour and please Him. People can get so ‘bungled up’ in the law when
it is necessary for them to ‘grow up.’
A cousin of mine used to tell the following story. A young bachelor hired a maid to
come to his home while he was away at work. He would leave a list of things that
needed doing. In time, the two became romantically involved and they got married.
He no longer left the list when he went off to work (thank goodness for that!);
however, his wife chose to fulfill many of those same tasks and probably many
other things that she had never been asked to do as a paid employee.
Paul draws our attention to the fact that our service for God is not a matter of law
any more. Our service is now motivated by our desire to please God and to become
more like Christ our leader. In fact, the people who follow Jesus have been
described as the ‘bride of Christ.’ “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new
relationship with God — all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done
for us in making us friends of God.” (Rom 5:11, NLT)
He no longer left the list when he went off to work (thank goodness for that!);
however, his wife chose to fulfill many of those same tasks and probably many
other things that she had never been asked to do as a paid employee.
Paul draws our attention to the fact that our service for God is not a matter of law
any more. Our service is now motivated by our desire to please God and to become
more like Christ our leader. In fact, the people who follow Jesus have been
described as the ‘bride of Christ.’ “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new
relationship with God — all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done
for us in making us friends of God.” (Rom 5:11, NLT)
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Heavenly Father, yesterday I failed. I disappointed myself in my weakness.
Thank You for the way You keep no records — when my sin is forgiven,
it is forgotten. Thank You also for the fact that You love me so. Amen.
Thank You for the way You keep no records — when my sin is forgiven,
it is forgotten. Thank You also for the fact that You love me so. Amen.
- Noel Churchman
Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.
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