Day 200

1 Chronicles 28:1–29:30; Romans 5:6-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 19:18-19

“WHEN WE WERE utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time” (Romans 5:6). These words began our reading from Romans today, and we could stop there and simply bask in the implications and exhale in utter relief. Those words describe not only our salvation but also the context of our entire lives.

The implications of Jesus rescuing us are astounding, and Paul focused on these in today’s passage, telling us that God invited us into relationship with Him —even while we were completely estranged. This is how Paul put it:

Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

In addition, Paul explained that the law was a means to reveal how far we had drifted from God and how deep the separation was. Without the law, there was no way to gauge how bad things had gotten, but with it, we could finally see our helplessness to achieve perfection on our own. The law’s purpose was to show us our desperate need for God, and Jesus revealed God’s passionate desire to meet that need.

As theologically driven as Romans is, the underlying reality should shake and humble us. God didn’t need to do any of this. We made (and make) choices that, if left to run their logical course, lead to our own destruction. We can’t be our own god. As much as we try, we’re not equipped. The law was given so that we might understand our trajectory and become aware of our plight. When we realize we are hopeless and helpless to do anything about it, we see how overwhelming God’s love really is. It is so profound that, even while we were alienated, God would not surrender us to the darkness we had created. Which leads us back to where we started: When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time.

Just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Take some time today to consider how massive this is —not only in your personal life but for the entire species we call humanity. No matter what is swirling around us, we can be absolutely assured that we indeed have a good, good Father.

MEDITATION:

Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.