Bible Reading:
Romans 3:9-24
9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17And the way of peace have they not known:
18There is no fear of God before their eyes.
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:
Devotional:
When a child is born into the world he seems so innocent and so pure. It is not difficult, really, to think of him as a tabula rasa, a clean slate, whose environment will imprint upon him the evil that becomes by manhood such a part of his life.
It is here that many of us get on the wrong track as parents. We fail to see the need of training the child when he is such a tiny baby. We readily recognize that he needs love and it is very easy to give him this because he is so lovable. But it is more difficult to recognize his need of discipline and training and give it to him. Indeed, the need for discipline in the infant is difficult to discern unless we are aware that the innocence we are assuming is only apparent!
It is important for us to study Romans 3 along with Romans 1 to learn what God says about the nature of man. The inherently sinful nature of man may be very ugly and depressing for us who are parents to contemplate. But it is the truth of God and we need to be reminded of it that our backbones might be stiffened! This chapter should impress upon us the need gently to train, instruct and correct from the earliest days. Beginning with the simple lesson that beds are made for sleeping and that mother knows that her baby needs sleep, the training should proceed. The proud, self-assertive spirit of the baby needs gradually but surely to come to rest in the wisdom of those parents to whose care God has intrusted him.
Romans 3 should also impress upon us the need to communicate as the years proceed the liberating gospel of God both by our example and our precept.
We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."
Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.
Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.
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