Daily Reading
Reflection
St. Paul puts it plainly: we've all sinned; we're blemished, fallen and incapable of setting things right with God. A quick look at the record of humanity reveals countless examples of deceit, selfishness, and destruction. But fortunately, God doesn't leave us in this pitiable state. Through redemption in Christ, we are justified. What does this mean? Simply put, it means that Christ took our sins upon Himself and gave us His righteousness, restoring our relationship with the Father. He bought our freedom, releasing us from the slavery of our fallen selves. It's a simple, yet profound, transaction.
In our pride and arrogance, we often forget that nothing—not one thing we have done—has earned us this redemption. It is God's gift. Nothing in our spiritual journey is possible apart from Christ. Sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking that we're better than others. We're not. It is only through the grace of God that we have a relationship with Him. When we realize this, we stop working to please Him and start trying to love Him and His kingdom.
Should we accept God's gift of grace halfheartedly and just go on with our lives? Certainly not! Nobody accepts a cherished gift and simply sets it aside. We celebrate the gift, knowing that we are redeemed, albeit flawed, and in the process of restoration, making the effort to bring ourselves more in line with God's kingdom values.
Blessed Lord, may we rejoice with unfailing hearts in the knowledge that it is by your grace that we may be our true selves, the way you designed us from the beginning. Help us to draw nearer to you, with the full knowledge of our redemption through you and the desire to be more like Christ.
Daily Worship Resources
Daily Office Readings come from the Book of Common Prayer, a schedule of daily Bible reading that accords with the Church year. These readings are great worship resources for personal, family, or group use. Use it along with your City Church Worship Folder as a resource for readings, prayers, and hymns.
Printable Devotion