Mon.’s Devo - Living the Law

Read Romans 2:12-29 Before Jesus came, the Jews lived by the law and were judged according to how they obeyed it. The Gentiles were exempt from being judged by the law because it wasn’t given to them and they were not taught what it said. All the Jewish nation heard the law spoken by Moses but only those who obeyed it actually were justified. Those who don’t have the law know instinctively what is right because they have been given a conscience that becomes their law. They are judged by how they listen to it. Paul asks the Jew, who boasts that he knows the law, if he obeys it or only talks it. It is easy to tell someone else what to do, but not so easy to do it yourself. If a person doesn’t act on what he is teaching he gives the Gentiles a reason to blaspheme God because he is being a hypocrite and making God look like a liar. Paul asks them another question. Why would you be circumcised as an act of claiming allegiance to God, then not show honor to God with your life? Being a follower of God is more than circumcision: it is a heart matter that that comes from your spirit. It is not an act of piety to look good in front of others. How true this is to us. It is not how much we read the Bible or know about God and Jesus; it is how we live for him or better: die for him. If we are dead to ourselves then he is free to live through us with power and freedom. Lord, may we die daily to our plans and live joyfully for you.