THE LAW OF FAITH

"Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law" (Romans 3:21-28, NASB)."

Devotion 2 of 30

WHAT IF GOD DOES NOT RECEIVE US?

If God does not receive us, it matters very little what we may appear to have accomplished. If we leave this world only to face an unknown God, there has been no purpose or accomplishment to our lives. It makes little difference how we may have impacted society if we are not recognized in the throne room of heaven. If our names are not "written in heaven" (Luke 10:20; Heb 12:23), there has been no genuine recognition--anywhere! If Christ has not "received" or "accepted us to the glory of God" (Rom 15:7), nothing else matters! That is the whole purpose of life.

Everything of genuine value finds its place within the perimeter of Divine acceptance. Divine approval is everything, and is never a matter to be taken lightly or for granted. It is said of our blessed Lord Himself, He was "a man approved of God" (Acts 2:22). The Spirit speaks of the individual who is "acceptable to God" (Rom 14:18), "approved in Christ" (Rom 16:10), and one "whom the Lord commendeth" (2 Cor 10:8). Those who labor for the Lord are admonished, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God" (2 Tim 2:15, NKJV). We are to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, to the end they will be "acceptable to God" (Rom 12:2). Serving Christ is presented against the backdrop of being "acceptable to God" (Rom 14:18).

This is the status Paul abandoned every competing interest to obtain. "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I MAY GAIN CHRIST, and may BE FOUND IN HIM, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH COMES FROM GOD on the basis of faith, that I MAY KNOW HIM, and THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION and THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD" (Phil 3:7-11, NASB).

The greatest curse is to be rejected by the Lord--to hear the words, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41), or "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt 7:23). It is dreadful to contemplate being a "castaway," or a reject (1 Cor 9:27). Every effort is to be expended to avoid hearing these words! We will find that the phrase "the law of faith" presents the primary thrust of our activity, which is to believe God.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, help me never to be deficient in faith, for I know You cannot be pleased without it.

-- Tomorrow: THE KEY PHRASES --