Romans 2:5-16
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Bill Francis
Morello Hills Christian Church – Martinez
Observation: This is a hard section to read by itself. I’m not sure I can do it. I’m not sure I can live it. I need to know chapter 3 verse 21 (“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” Namely – Jesus!) is coming up. But here I hear the word “repentance” or “repentant heart” loud and clear. I hear that my turning toward Christ is all the “good” I really need to do – the rest will follow.
Action: Lord, may I seek to be close to You today. Help me to seek good, Your good, in each moment and in each decision. I will do two “out of the ordinary” actions today like buy someone’s coffee who I’m in line with or …? May your love shine through me in these actions today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sean Arisco
Harvest Church – Concord
Observation: Jesus, I recognize that Your grace does not give me an excuse to sin, but rather a reason not to sin. You still expect full obedience from me and give me strength from the Holy Spirit to do it!
Action: Today I’m going to focus on the love of God and ask Him for the grace to be obedient in a specific area or relationship that I have been struggling with.
Wash through me Holy Spirit, over and around.
Wet my taste for Your Word. May Your Word target my evil.
Appetite grow inside me for Your peace. May longing be insatiable.
I yearn for what is good and righteous and holy. Empower me in choice.
Forgive my old cravings. May ‘Patient persistence in well doing’ become me.
Keep me Lord, next to You. Keep me Lord, in your statutes.
Write Your way, a new way, upon my heart, Lord, purify, then judge intent.
Thank You Lord for eternal Life. Thank You for Your very character.
Thank You Lord for Your grace. Amen.
A key challenge in this passage comes by way of verse 7: To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. What is true but not explicitly stated here is that seeking glory comes through humility; honor by way of service; immortality by way of the cross of Christ. I know this to be true because it is the way Jesus achieved these, and by way of these that He calls me to know, love, and serve Him.
Today, Lord break my heart with that which breaks yours, that I might repent and instead persist in the singular “good” that you preach: Belief in You. Amen.