Romans 3:19-26  ¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.  ²⁰ For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.  ²¹ But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,  ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,  ²³ since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;  ²⁴ they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  ²⁵ whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;  ²⁶ it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. –Martin Luther

Our devotion today is from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church:

"Do you have everything you need?" That's a pretty typical question, isn't it? A parent asks their child that question as they head off to the first day of high school, or as they get into the car to head to college. That question is directed to a co-worker as they head off for a meeting or business trip. New parents might ask each other that question as they take the new baby on some adventure.

Or our conscience might ask each of us that question as we ponder our eternal destiny.

Do we have everything we need?  Well, let's remember that God's standard to enter heaven is absolute perfection, complete righteousness.  And you and I have fallen woefully short of that standard.

But Jesus didn't come to this earth because we were good people. He came because we were sinners who needed to be saved. And Jesus did exactly what we needed him to do: he saved us.

Yes, he died for you, thereby paying for your sins, but he also lived for you. He lived the perfect, human life which you need in order to enter heaven. And in wonderful grace, God gives YOU credit for the life which JESUS led.  In other words, as God looks at you, he sees you as perfect, because that's what God has declared you to be through Jesus.

"Do you have everything you need?" When it comes to the most important question of all—whether we have all that we need to enter heaven—the answer is a resounding "Yes!" through Jesus our Savior.

Prayer: 

O Holy Spirit, I praise you that through the gospel you have given me Jesus' perfection. Assure me that I have all that I need to enter heaven, because of Jesus' work in my place. Amen
 

Source:  http://www.wels.net/spiritual-help/daily-devotion/2011-06/romans-321-22-june-29-2011

In our prayers this week:  Ann, Daniel, David, Brianna, Woody, Scott S., Anna, and Evelyn

God’s Peace,