Good Morning! Today’s devotional comes from Suzie Brewer. Suzie is a junior at TCU double majoring in Communication Studies (BS) and Writing (BA), with a Mathematics Minor. Suzie is quite involved in the Religious and Spiritual Life office. She serves as the President of Sigma Phi Lambda, is a student representative on the Religious Advisory Council, and is a leading voice in our Discernment & Direction spiritual support group. Suzie is also involved in the First Year Experience including Frogs First and the Afternoon Tea. She is an absolute delight! I hope her works speak to you today and stay with you throughout your Lenten journey.
Romans 8:16-17
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Heirs of Christ
Spiritual discipline seems to be at a high during this Lenten Season, as many people purposefully seek God in new ways as we lead up to Easter, and celebrate the beauty of newness of life and justification found through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, there is nothing that we can do – “add to” or “take away” or something in between – to our lives in order to earn God’s love for us. The scripture refers to us, His creation, as children of God, and as children of God, we are unconditionally heirs to the mighty riches and inheritance of God. Someone once told me that “grace,” getting something you don’t deserve, stands for God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Because we are humans full of brokenness (sin), we don’t deserve an inheritance, but God unconditionally loves his children and still bestows this inheritance upon us, which is made known to us through the sacrifice of Jesus (Romans 5:8).
There is a second part of this scripture, though, that talks about being fellow heirs with Christ. It speaks about suffering as Christ suffered, willing to endure the “hard” for the sake that God may be glorified, and His name made great. This speaks to the concept of sanctification, being made more and more holy, more and more like Christ. So yes, spiritual discipline is part of this sanctification process. But it is important to remember, that we are still humans, still not capable of perfection on our own account. It is important during this Lenten Season to remember the “why” of the season and not to get caught up in the “what” we are doing. It is by God’s grace that we have been saved, not as result of all the “things” that we do (Ephesians 2:8-9)! Ultimately, God desires to spend time with His children, and that may look different for each of us. One thing is for certain and unchanging: God is unconditionally faithful to His children, even when we do not reciprocate this faithfulness, due to His steadfast character (2 Timothy 2:13).
Rest in the blessing of God’s grace and faithfulness today. Take time on this Leap Day, as an extra day this year, to meditate on God’s unchanging character.
Let us pray.
Dear God,
Let us rest today in the promises of your grace. Thank you for unconditionally caring and loving for your children, amidst our many shortcomings. Thank you for remaining steadfast and unchanging, even when we are not. Allow us to live in freedom and inheritance that is only found through You. Amen.
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