Another Day to Live in Repentance and Faith
Thursday’s Verse:
From Romans 14:12 ESV
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
There is something both sobering and comforting about Paul's words. They are sobering because they declare that life is significant. The decisions we make. The words we say. The actions we take are seen, and they matter. Each of us will stand before God one day. We will not be measured against our neighbor. We cannot blame others for our choices or let excuses hide our sin. We must give an account.
But for the Christian, there is great comfort in this as well. We do not stand before God on the basis of our own life’s record. If that were true, our response would be fear. But we stand before God clothed in Christ’s righteousness. In faith, we claim His perfect obedience as our own. His cross paid the penalty that our sin demanded.
Our lives are transformed by this truth. We do not try to earn the favor of God. We already have it in Jesus! With that assurance we can live life responsibly and lovingly. We concern ourselves with our actions, not to try and save ourselves, but because we belong to Jesus who saved us.
Another thing we learn from Romans 14 is not to judge fellow believers over issues of conscience. God is the judge of that. We first take care of our own walk with God. We seek to build each other up.
Today is a gift from God. It is another day to live in repentance and faith. Another day to cling to the mercy of Christ. Another day to love our neighbor well with a clear conscience and a grateful heart.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You have answered for my sin and made me righteous before the Father. Help me to live each day by faith, walking in humility and love. Protect me from judging others harshly. Teach me to live before You with a clear conscience and confident hope in Jesus. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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