A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  While working on a recent edition of A New Day, I was configuring the page format in respect to the alignment of the text.  Although I have produced hundreds of these devotionals, I have instinctively used the justified alignment option for the Word document, to better ensure proper editing for both web and radio publication.  When the text is “justified,” the computer software automatically takes the words, and aligns them evenly to fit within the prescribed margins on the page.  Clicking on the “justified” icon, frees me from having to meticulously make right (or proper) each word to fit equally within each designated line.  I could not imagine the time that would be consumed if I had to manually perform this task.  In fact, it would practically be impossible.  I would invest my time in the rigors of formatting, instead of the joy of creating.  By the same token, imagine, if you will, having to live every moment of every day attempting to align ourselves with the perfect righteousness of God.  We would spend every second of every day burdened by the notion that absolute perfection was required in every syllable of every word, every thought, every act, and every intent.  Through deeds of commission and omission, the struggle of perfection would supplant any joy that we might have.  Thankfully, in the kingdom of God, there is a “justified” icon—Jesus Christ.  Our Scripture lesson today eternally resolves the issue.  When we trust in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father justifies us; that is, He declares us to be righteous based on His acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  We are now in perfect alignment with God’s standard of perfection.  Rather than spending our days wrestling with our efforts to be accepted by Him, we can live with the peace of God, knowing of assuredly that through Christ Jesus we have peace with God.  It is that peace that frees us from all of the trappings of legalism, and enables us to live as His sons and daughters with each new day.