Equal before God

Hey there, and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Equal Before God was written by Dave Brannon. While on vacation, my wife and I enjoyed some early morning bike rides. One route took us through a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes. We saw a variety of people, residents walking their dogs, fellow bike riders, and numerous workers building new homes or tending well-kept landscapes. It was a mixture of people from all walks of life, and I was reminded of a valuable reality. There was no true distinction among us, rich or poor, wealthy or working class, known or unknown.

All of us on that street that morning were the same. Rich and poor have this in common. The Lord is the maker of them all, it says in Proverbs 22 too. Regardless of differences, we were all made in God's image.

But there's more. Being equal before God also means that no matter our economic, social, or ethnic situation, Romans 3 23 declares that we're all born with a sin condition. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We're all disobedient and equally guilty before Him, and we need Jesus.

We often divide people into groups for a variety of reasons, but in reality, we're all part of the human race. And though we're all in the same situation, sinners in need of a Savior, we can be justified freely, made right with God by His grace. But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely, by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood, to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance, He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.

He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Let's pray. Dear God, thank You so much for sending Jesus to live a perfect life and willing to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. May our lives be examples of Your love and mercy to those around us today. Thank You, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. I'm Stephen Tabor, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.