Friday after the Second Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 22, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)
5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Devotion
Of all the things Paul mentions, people too often forget the Holy Ghost. Justification by faith happens because the Holy Ghost creates faith in us. Peace is only achieved with God by the Holy Ghost humbling us before Him, making us to cease from our rebellion. Grace, hope, and glory come to us only because His Spirit makes us able to hear, believe, and walk according to such blessings. Even in tribulations, the ability to endure them faithfully and mature in the results of suffering only comes from the Holy Ghost keeping us steadfast in the faith that clings to Christ crucified.
A common mistake of false teachers is to ignore or suppress the work of God’s Spirit in the things of the Church. They want to make God’s blessings the result of our work and power. But the Scriptures teach us time and time again that all that is good, within us and without, is from God. He is the one who reveals the truth to us. He is the one who gives us the power to walk in that truth. And He is the only one who deserves the glory and thanks for making good and righteous things happen! In all these things the Spirit of God fulfills His role as Helper and brings our focus to the cross of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, who dost govern all things in Heaven and Earth, mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
