October 31st - Reflection

Reformation Day
Romans 3:19-28 (NRSV)

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Reflection
We could never be justified by keeping the law. We won't get there that way. We can't. No one but One has been able to keep the Law. Only one Jew has been able to do this. And I'm not even a Jew. What chance would I even begin to have.

But there is a way. When I place all of my faith in Jesus I have come to Jesus and realized that my life is only through him that I may live. The law is not thrown away. The law is still valid. With this I now live my life in fuller harmony with the law because I realize that faith in Jesus brings life.

Faith in the law will not bring life. Faith in the law will only point out my failure to keep it. But faith in Jesus will bring life from death and a will to uphold the law. In this the law is established and salvation is given through faith in Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, it's easy to fall into the goody goody trap. Show me your life and your will and your way that my faith increases and becomes rock solid strong. Then and only then can I even begin to uphold the law through your gracious saving acts. --- Amen