Bible Study & Devotional Day 200
Guiding Scripture: Romans 5:6-7 (emphasis added), At just the right time, Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person.
🔴Unusual
written by: Torrie Slaughter
As the Apostle Paul goes into a deeper discussion about atonement, his statements to the Jews and Gentiles reflect God’s great mercy.
“While we were yet, sinners.” (Romans 5:8) In our state of complete powerlessness, God sent His Son Jesus as the unblemished Lamb to die for the world’s sins.
His Jewish audience would thoroughly understand God’s sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Their practice of sacrifice-(placing their sins on a flawless animal) was for reconciliation. The Pagans also practice a version of this to their deities (1 Kings 4:4-11).
To understand Christ’s transcendent atoning for our sins is incomprehensible. As finite beings, that type of love for His image-bearers is the tension with which we struggle.
John 15:13, No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.
And we know Jesus consistently prayed for those who “knew not what they did” (Luke 23:34) and reminds us to forgive one another. To love is an unusual sacrifice when we’ve experienced abuse, trauma, and rejection. Loving those who do not love us back is the thread of being blameless before God.
As you read today, think about why the Old Testament sacrificial system was necessary. How did it prepare the hearts of God’s chosen people to comprehend the transcendent nature of Jesus’ work on the cross? While ethically we deserve death (Romans 1:32), God proves He so loved the world that He provided divine reconciliation.
What will motivate you to be prosperous?
Your sin debt paid, the victory you can walk in, or the justice you receive? God wants to restore us to a right relationship. Faith covered by grace declares we are not guilty. Isn’t that unusual?
Prayer: Lord, because of your sacrifice, we can break free of the bondage of sin. That includes the way we think, act, and behave. Would you please help us understand the importance of your habits to acknowledge our unbeneficial actions? Please be with us as we wrestle with arrogance, pride, and vanity so we can humble ourselves before You. We want the ‘hell’ in our ways to be removed. You are our Redeemer, and without you, we can do nothing. We submit to your will Lord. Amen
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Torrie is a media ministry consultant who works with churches and faith driven organizations to build their ministry team. She is the Blueprint Specialist uncovering root problems to construct solutions. Want to hear more? Tune in and listen to A Daily Purpose Bible Study & Devotional a podcast by Our Given Purpose and on Fridays to Talking on Purpose with Torrie the Podcast. Torrie also hosts a YouTube channel of the same name.
This devotional is submitted by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® for A Daily Purpose Bible Study & Devotional.
