I am eager to preach the gospel…
… to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:15–17 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, I share Paul’s eagerness for the gospel to be preached. Yet my target audience isn’t Rome, but my own heart. Thank you for convincing me that there’s nothing more than the gospel just more of it. My comprehensive need for your grace is met by your inexhaustible supply of it. Out of your fullness, I continue to receive grace upon grace (John 1:16). Thank you.
It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to affirm that you are my righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30); for I don’t have any of my own. You are my substitute to trust before you are my example to follow. You fulfilled the demands of the law for me (Rom. 10:14), and now you’re fulfilling the beauty of the law in me (Rom. 8:4). You get all the credit.
Because God has hidden my life in yours, he cannot love me more than he does today, and he’ll never love me less (Col. 3:1-5). Make this more real to me than ever before. Your life for me is my guarantee of redemption; and your life in me is my “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
And now, sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor.1:22; John 7:37-39), I know God as Abba, Father—who has adopted me, and loves me as much as he loves you (Rom. 8:15-16; Eph. 1:5; John 17:23). Nothing can separate me from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39), and nothing can separate me from the God of love (Heb. 13:5).
Jesus, these aren’t just Bible verses and doctrines to me; but my life and joy, peace and liberty, sanity and surety. Because the gospel is true, I want to live and love to your glory, until the Day you return. Let it be increasingly so, Lord. So very Amen I pray, in your merciful and mighty name.