Thurs.’s Devo - By Faith

Read Ro. 1:14-23 Paul felt an obligation to preach the gospel to all people, no matter their nationality or status. He knew that the gospel was something he was proud to share because it was backed by the power of God. It was salvation to first the Jew, then the Gentile. Paul’s mode of operation was to go into a new town and offer the gospel to the Jews first in the synagogue. When they refused it, he was free to preach to the Gentiles. All through the Bible, God taught that justification comes by faith, not by the law. Abraham was justified by his faith. (Heb. 11). Even though no one taught Abraham that to believe was the key, not his righteousness, he knew by revelation. All the hidden things of God are revealed through the things he made. Even the Godhead is evident through nature. Plants have roots hidden beneath the ground that hold the whole plant in place. They stand for God who is our foundation. The stem and the plant springs up from the ground and bears fruit just as Jesus came to earth to bear the fruit of God. Inside the plant is the life and nourishment of the plant which is invisible to the eye. That is the Holy Spirit that brings us life. We can’t even come to God unless the Holy Spirit draws us. He is our life and breath. God’s fingerprint is on everything he has made so we are without excuse not to believe in a God, His Son, and His Holy Sprit. But, instead of being thankful to have such a wonderful God, they became jealous and prideful and they became deceived in their hearts. They thought they were wise like God and made images of Him and reduced him to a bird or a beast. This is Satan’s tactic: take honor from God and make man think he is like God. Isn’t that what he told Eve in the garden when he told her that if she ate the apple she wold be wise like God? Lord, we come against pride that would try to deceive us into thinking we can do anything apart from you and that you aren’t enough just as you are. We praise you!