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 to preach the Gospel today, and I’ll get to do so, here in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But my main audience today is my heart, and friends who receive these daily grace-morsels.
Our comprehensive need of grace is met by your inexhaustible supply, Jesus. Out of your fullness, we continue to receive grace upon grace (John 1:16). You are our righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). Indeed, you are our substitute to trust, before you’re our example to follow.
What we could never do for ourselves, you did for us, Jesus. You fulfilled the demands of the law for us (Rom. 10:14), and now you’re fulfilling the beauty of the law in us (Rom. 8:4). Because God has hidden our lives in yours, he cannot love us more, and he’ll never love us less (Col. 3:1-5). Make this more real to us than anything else in the cosmos.
And now, sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor.1:22; John 7:37-39), we are getting to know God as our merciful, compassionate, sovereign Father (Rom. 8:15-16; Eph. 1:5; John 17:23). No condemnation for our sin remains (Rom. 8:1); and no separation from God’s love can occur (Rom. 8:38-39; Heb. 13:5). The fear of death is gone (Heb. 2:14-15), and the wonders of heaven are certain (1 Pet.1:3-5). Hallelujah!
Jesus, because the Gospel is this good and this true, free us to live and love to your glory. So very Amen we pray, in your merciful and mighty name.