I’ve read many stories where the main character needs to go over hurdles, solve mysteries, find lost treasures and hidden passageways and overcome all manner of obstacles to reach their ultimate goal. These kinds of struggles make for captivating storytelling. But if my ultimate goal is to be saved, to have eternal life with God in His new and perfect kingdom, I don’t have to jump across chasms filled with flaming scorpions, or scale a crumbling mountain infested with ice spiders, or fight an acid-belching dragon in a deep underground cavern. Today’s verse tells me the simple things I need to do: confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. It’s just a matter of faith. While this makes for a terrible adventure story, it is wonderful news. That’s why Jesus’s story is called Good News. In Jesus’s story, He did all the hard work. He wore my sin like a heavy, burning coat. He endured the torture of whipping, hatred, abandonment, betrayal, and crucifixion. He went down to Hades and conquered death. Because of His story, my story can be one simple, boring verse. All I need to do is believe!
Dear God,
I can never thank you enough for taking on all the hard tasks required to pay for my sin. Thank you that I don’t have to! Your salvation is free and there is nothing I can do to earn it or pay it back. I am so relieved that my job is so simple. But remind me that even though it is simple I still need to do it. Show me how and when to confess that you are Lord and give me the faith to believe!
CamDevo 