Your Identity in Christ
• I declare with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead; and so in Christ, I am saved.
Our initial identity piece here is being saved based on a confession of faith. But looking in the chapter where this language is drawn, Romans 10, we see a parallel identity coming out of that language: You are righteous. What is significant about being identified as righteous is that we are born unrighteous, we show unrighteous by our sin, and then even after coming to faith in Christ, we exhibit an unrighteousness in our residual flesh. And yet – in Christ – we are righteous: Justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Father God, You and I both know that I hunger to be right with You and yet fail at that on my own. We also both know then I need forgiveness and that Jesus is the answer. I thank You for providing that righteousness through Jesus in relation to You. In His name I pray and come to You. Amen.
Micro-Meditation Scripture
Psalm 119:81-88 (Kaph, 11th letter)
- My soul faints with longing for your salvation
but I have put my hope in your word. - My eyes fail, looking for your promise;
I say, “When will you comfort me?” - Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget your decrees. - How long must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors? - The arrogant dig pits to trap me,
contrary to your law. - All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.
- They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts. - In your unfailing love preserve my life,
that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.
Micro-Meditation
Teaching or Command of God
2 Peter 3:8-9
Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Isaiah 30:18
The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all who wait for him
Micro-Meditation
Pondering Point
Being dried out by smoke is very harmful for a wineskin, an apt description for someone wasting away waiting and waiting on God… but still trusting. Wow!