by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Thank God for His Mercy!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

When walking past this row of kayaks and canoes, I was surprised that I didn’t see any parking tickets. The sign reads, “No Parking: Fire Lane.” Yet, here they are, fourteen of them parked in a neat row and nary a ticket.

This is a good picture of how we often treat God’s law. We  figure it applies to others and not to us. Yet that is not what Paul implies in Romans.

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
Romans 3:19 English Standard Version

Whether it is the law written on hearts or in his Word, all humans are under God’s law. It applies to all of us and there are no exceptions. That’s tough for us to swallow because it feels like it robs us of hope.

If all we knew were the demands of God, we ought to despair. There isn’t any way that we could make up for falling short, and making excuses for our failures will not work.

There is only one thing that has moved God to be gracious to us.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
Romans 3:21-22 (ESV)

Jesus’ mercy on the cross, his acceptance of our punishment on the cross, means that HIS righteous life becomes ours. The law isn’t ignored, it is fulfilled in Jesus. Even though we still miss the mark, God is gracious to us.

Instead of living in fear of God’s punishment, God has given us the gifts of love, joy, peace, and hope. You see, the law also applied to Jesus, every aspect of it, and he was obedient, even to the point of death. And he did it for you.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado