Word@Work Romans26 - Romans 3:13-18
Published: Wed, 09/21/11
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Most of the time, people act in a socially acceptable way. They are restrained from breaking laws because they fear punishment, and controlled by social traditions because they fear being excluded. However, underneath the external niceness lie hearts which can produce poisonous speech and violent actions. That is why drunkenness is so ugly; it is not 'the alcohol talking', but the real man or woman is being displayed as inhibitions are removed. These verses quoted from the Psalms reveal that nobody's nature is good enough for God.
Without Christ, every heart is restless. Trying, but failing to be at peace, because no peace is possible for those who are opposed to God (Isaiah 57:20-21). But most do not think they are fighting Him. That is because they hardly ever consider that He has authority over them. So they have no fear of Him. They justify their behaviour, but ultimately it will damn them. Paul says that that is how God sees everybody. Which is why we need Jesus to be our Saviour.
The 'way of peace' is not through meditation or religious piety. Nor is it an emotional inner tranquillity or feeling of contentment. 'Peace with God' is the strong confidence that, although we are sinners capable of the worse crimes, God's wrath against us is lifted: we can be forgiven through Jesus and our inner nature can be changed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1-5). Pray for yourself that God will show you where you are resisting Him and need to change. As for other people, we cannot change their hearts, although we might be able to modify their behaviour; but we can and must pray for them. The Lord has the power to bring us to our senses and to Jesus.
Prayer: Great God, my Heavenly Father. Thank You for the piercing accuracy with which You see every human heart, including mine. Forgive me for being self-satisfied with my behaviour and content with the state of my heart. Whenever my behaviour gets out of control, help me to see that the problem is really in my heart which is not in submission to You. Help me to repent and ask for Your Holy Spirit to enable me to change so that I know the way of peace, with Jesus as my Saviour and Lord. In His Name. Amen.
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