July 28 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Romans 3:19-31:

¹⁹Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
²⁷Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
²⁸Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
²⁹Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
³⁰Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
³¹Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Devotional

God does not leave the spiritually hungry to starve, nor the spiritually thirsty to perish. He has made rich provisions for them. He has given them the promise, they shall be filled. He has provided righteousness for us. We have no righteousness in ourselves. "There is none righteous, no not one." But the Lord is our righteousness. In the Lord we have righteousness and strength. Jesus Christ of God is made unto us righteousness. He said, "He that cometh unto me shall never hunger .... He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." He also is the water of life. He said, "He that believeth on me shall never thirst."

He has not only provided spiritual food and drink, He also invites the hungry and thirsty to come and eat and drink. Even in Old Testament times the invitation was extended: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price." It was on the Feast of Taber­nacles, when the crowds were gathered in Jerusalem, and the people were reminded of the Old Testament passage: "With joy shall ye draw water of the wells of salvation," that Jesus stood and cried: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." What an invitation to all the world.

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whoso­ever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, we cannot sufficiently thank Thee for the bread of life, which Thou hast provided so abun­dantly, and for the water of life that flows so freely. May we never forsake Thee, the fountain of living waters, and make our­selves cisterns that can hold no water. May we never build on works of righteousness, which we have done, but trust in that perfect righteousness, which Jesus Christ has obtained for us; and, being justified by the grace of Jesus Christ, may we have the assurance of eternal life. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Rom. 3:10; Jer. 23:6; Isa. 54:24; 1 Cor 1:30; John 6:48; Isa. 55:1; 12:3; John 7:37; Rev. 22:17.

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