OUR DAILY BREAD : RED TAPE

[cimi]

January 29
Tuesday


RED TAPE

READ:
Romans 5:1-8
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Through [Jesus] also
we have access by faith
into this grace in which
we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of
God. __Romans 5:2
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The expression "red tape" describes the annoying way that bureaucracy prevents things from getting done. Originally, the phrase referred to the common practice of binding official documents with red ribbon. In the early 1800s, the term was popularized by the writings of Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle, who was protesting governmental foot-dragging. Following the American Civil War, the problem of "red tape" resurfaced as war veterans struggled to receive their benefits. The term denotes frustration and disappointment because of the burdensome hurdles it erects to accomplishing goals.

Bureaucratic red tape is almost legendary, but there is one place in the universe where it's never an issue--the throne of God. In Romans 5:2, Paul speaks of Christ, "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand." When our hearts are broken or our lives are troubled, there is no red tape hindering our access to God. Jesus Christ has paved the way so that we can have access to enter boldly into the presence of the King of heaven (Heb. 4:16).

Remember, when your heart is hurting, you don't have to cut through a lot of red tape to present your needs to God. Through Christ, we have full and immediate access. __Bill Crowder
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~~~~~~~~~~Thank You, FAther, that access to Your throne~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~has been secured for us by Jesus Christ. We~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~know that You will not ignore us. Thank You for~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~the confidence we can have that You care.~~~~~~~~
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God's throne is always accessible to His children.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 5:1-8******************

1 Therefore, having been
justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through
whom also we have access
by faith into this grace in
which we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance;

4 and perseverance,
character; and character,
hope. 5 Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love
of God has been poured out
in our hearts by the Holy
Spirit who was given to us.

6 For when we were still
without strength, in due
time Christ died for the
ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a
righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man
someone would even dare
to die. 8 But God
demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ
died for us.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, believers are now justified
by faith (Rom. 5:1). Paul speaks of this as our undeserved privilege.
We now have "peace with God" (v.1), for we are no longer His
enemies. We have been delivered from His wrath and reconciled to
Him (vv.9-11). We have access to God, and our glorious hope (v.2)
is being restored to His glory (3:23). This gives us a new perspective
on life's pains. We can rejoice in our present sufferings because
they are designed by God to strengthen, mature, and perfect us
(5:3-4). All of this is possible because of a new experience of
God's inexhaustible love, demonstrated through Christ's death and
affirmed through the giving of the Holy Spirit (v.5).