Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, March 8, 2015
Based Upon Romans 10
Perhaps the greatest among human tragedies is ignorance or rejection of the power God provides for us to live holy lives, in place of our own feeble efforts.
“Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command. We are to draw from the well of salvation. Christ is the end of law for righteousness to everyone who believeth. In ourselves we are sinners; but in Christ we are righteous. Having made us righteous through the imputed righteousness of Christ, God pronounces us just, and treats us as just. He looks upon us as His dear children. Christ works against the power of sin, and where sin abounded, grace much more abounds. ‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God’ (Rom. 5:1, 2). (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages From the Writings of Ellen G. White, Book 1 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1958), 394).
What an incredible deal! It is our privilege to be free from sin through the power of God. He is able to save all who place their trust in Him, and equally able to make us righteous examples who stand in stark contrast to those who embrace wickedness in this present evil age.
Hear also what the Scripture says: “…Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:11–18).
Here is the bottom line of today’s thought: God has made provision for everyone to be saved. The professed people of God, who have historically stumbled over the simplicity of salvation, because they wanted to recommend themselves to God by their own good works, have made it necessary for God to magnify the gospel, so those who don’t profess Him could become object lessons of the simplicity. Thus, the professed people of God have been provoked to envy those receiving God’s power, and themselves reevaluate their position before God.
We too have the opportunity to embrace the simplicity of the gospel, which leads to direct communion with God. “The word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:8–11, LEB).
