Grace
Day 567, Sunday, Mar. 1
Romans 11:1-10
Salvation is a free gift not only for the gentiles who did not receive the law, but also for the Jews who did receive the law.
Paul reminds the Romans that he is an Israelite. He recalls to them a time when Elijah cried out to God and God said he had reserved a remnant for himself that had not worshiped Baal. “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”
In the time of Elijah, the word of God was saved not through human effort, but by God’s intervention in calling out a faithful remnant.
It is the same in Paul’s day—the message of salvation is protected and spread not through human effort but by grace. It cannot be based on works, or grace would no longer be grace.
Paul’s letter to the Romans and his other writings often get into the nuts and bolts of living a Christian life. He describes how Christians act, and what their lives will look like. Throughout it, though, he never wavers in his belief that we live in obedience in response to God’s free gift and never in an attempt to earn salvation.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 88:1-18
Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you. Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you? Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend.

Prayer focus
Thank you, Lord, for your free gift of salvation. Let us serve you in response, recognizing the free gift.