Devotion 03 March 2026

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9

READING: Romans 4: 6-13

As we read these words, we may question whether they have any relevance for us as Christians today. We don’t hold circumcision in such high regard, and we don’t make our faith all about obeying the Law.

But, at that time, circumcision was a physical sign indicating that a person was obedient to the Jewish law - their bodies represented their commitment to God’s Law. Such faithful Jews were outraged when Christian preachers like Paul said that God was more concerned with faith than circumcision, and that God accepted and loved uncircumcised Gentiles just as much as God’s own people.

It’s easy to condemn those ritualistic Pharisees of old. But, during Lent, maybe it is a good moment to examine our own behaviour and beliefs with an honest mind. Do we make ‘laws’ to make our faith easier to embrace?  Do we think that we ‘tick the box’ if we attend church regularly or take communion once a month or every week? Even when we know, in our hearts, that we very soon forget what we heard preached or what thoughts or good intentions filled our minds during that one hour?

And how do we think about others who act differently to us? How quick are we to criticise others whose faith is displayed in behaviour different to ours?

If our relationship with God is based on observing certain unwritten rituals or laws, whether created by ourselves or our church, we have not progressed fully into the freedom of God’s revelation in Christ Jesus.

God, through Jesus, calls us to a personal relationship with Him, into which we are accepted only by His grace, and which is sustained by faith in Him. (Romans 3:28 & Galatians 2:16)

Within the freedom of this relationship, we will then be led to behave in certain ways, and embrace certain actions. It is like putting the cart before the horse: we cannot put our spiritual actions and behaviour, such as observance of certain rules, before our personal acceptance of God’s grace in our lives.

The freedom of this close relationship with God will lead us to live in a way that expresses our gratitude in thanksgiving and seeks to share that love with others.

Prayer

Lord God, I thank you for Your undeserved grace that accepts me, regardless of who I am or what I do. I thank You for Your loving companionship, in Jesus’ name, Amen