March 13 I Friday

Deuteronomy 19-21

Mark 13:21-37

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  —Romans 5:20-21

The consequence of living under the reign of life is that we also live under the reign of grace. The grace of God is His divine power and resources freely given so that we may live the quality of life God intended. For all the requirements of God, we have the resources of God, but if we separate the requirements from the resources, we will end up powerless.

A key verse we need to remember is 1 Thessalonians 5:24, which says, “The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” We are workers together with God and for every task He calls us to God is the means, the resource, the direction and the empowerment to accomplish it. Paul writes, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV). This is all-inclusive for every work of God, but there is another aspect we discover in the grace of God.

Though we are under the reign of grace, we still struggle with sin and temptation. We have the indwelling life of Christ, but also retain our sinful natures. Paul writes, “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” (Romans 6:13). Whatever causes us to sin, whether the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life; we offer every part of it to the Lord. An instrument is only as good as the capability of its user, and in the hands of God, our areas of sin can be turned into instruments of righteousness, but this involves a deliberate and constant offering of these areas to God. 

If sin increases and we find the battle more intense, we need not panic because the increase in the pull of sin will be measured by the increase of grace. If there is sin in our marriage, our handling of money, our leisure time, or whatever the area, the reign of sin cannot only be equalled by the reign of grace, but overpowered. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” This is our ability to live in dependence on the indwelling presence of God and deepening our relationship with Him. Where we are weak, Christ is strong. The reign of life and grace we have in Christ frees us from both death and sin.

Prayer: Almighty God, the transition from death and sin to life and grace is the good news of the gospel. Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus so that I can have life in Him and experience His grace. Praise You!