Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. v13-14

Paul describes how prior to Christ entering our life we are slaves to sin but with Christ we are given new life and we are now under grace.

Although I am perhaps jumping ahead, this calls to mind Romans 12:2 where we are encouraged to be transformed by the renewing of the mind so that we can better discern God's will for our lives.  When God enters and transforms our hearts and minds HIS will becomes OUR will.

See also recent post on free will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who has both transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus for Your amazing grace.  I am not deserving.  I worry...far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. v20-21

I recently posted how scripture reveals to us our sin and the depth of our sin.  Similarly, scripture reveals to us the depth of God's grace (although we will never fathom the true depth and breadth of God's love).  See also post from DesiringGod.com on these verses in Romans - the author indicates that scripture should drive us into the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and knows all about all of my sin - even the sin I have yet to commit - yet You love me and forgive me all the same.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. v2-4

God does not want us to boast about any of our own abilities but instead at what He is able to do through us, particularly through our weakness as it becomes clear that God is at work, and as Paul says we are strengthened and molded into more of His image.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has produced much through my trials and weakness - I've been greatly strengthened - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  I am selfish, etc. and I sin daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Romans 4

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. v20-21

God made a covenant with Abraham, and even at 99 years old, Abraham (see v19-20) "did not waver".  Paul uses the covenant with Abraham as a reference point for us to believe Jesus in the same way that Abraham believed in God.  God makes many promises, and we must not only believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but also believe in the many promises God makes. 

God will never fail us.  

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and never leaves me - thank You Jesus!  You are an incredible comfort - yet I am undeserving.  I am harsh with my words and actions and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your messages for me today and every day.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Romans 3

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. v20

Although the most oft-quoted verse regarding how all of us are equal in our sin is Romans 3:23, Paul gives us v20 which helps us understand as well that it is through scripture that God reveals to us the depth of our sin - that we can ONLY be reconciled to God through faith in Christ.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You HAVE revealed sin to me and You have both softened my heart for You and others, and You have transformed my heart and life to be more like You. Thank You Jesus!  I know there is much to do so please help me grow closer to You to be more like You.  I am undeserving of all of what You have done for me - You saved a sinner like me.  Please forgive me for how I sin, especially my harshness with others.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you".

Romans 2

As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you". v24

Paul is blasting the Jewish leaders for their hypocrisy and as I read this I reflect on how I strive to be like God yet I acted very poorly and rudely with someone this afternoon from work.  I want to be more like God yet today I missed the mark...badly.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who is full of grace and love...and I know You love me.  Yet I am undeserving.  I am harsh with my words and actions and particularly today with a co-worker.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be a doer of the Word.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For God does not show favoritism.

Romans 2

For God does not show favoritism. v11

In Romans 2, Paul addresses those of the Jewish faith who demonstrated hypocrisy, as many claimed to be righteous yet sinned equally in God eyes.  According to John Piper, "[God] sees through [external appearances] and goes to the heart of the matter and is not partial to appearance and circumstance. Nobody breaks the rules and gets away with it, no matter how powerful or clever or wealthy or networked. All are judged by the same measure."

Core to addressing hypocrisy - and our faith for that matter - is our heart condition.  We must focus on getting a "new" heart - one that is softened and transformed more into the likeness of God. God of course does this for us when we draw near to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have given me a new heart and a new life - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving.  I am selfish and I have much more sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.