one step: Romans 4.1

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Have you ever met someone who boasts a lot? Maybe you would call it bragging. These people love talking about their accomplishments (past, present, and future), the people they know or hung out with or met once, and they really like you to feel that they are a big deal.

Paul just completed convincing arguments for the equality of Jews and Gentiles in the eyes of God as equal sinners and equal recipients of the grace of God.* In this passage, Paul is leveraging the stories of Abraham and David.* Doing so appeals to and challenges his readers as Abraham was often used in apologetic stories of Paul’s day, and Abraham and Davids were highly revered. To say that they were not justified by works so as to be able to boast was a big deal! Truthfully, however, Abraham was uncircumcised at the time that he placed his trust in God and David was a sinner.* Both were recipients of God’s grace despite their lack of quality works. It was the grace of God that provided them right standing with God.*

These two are inspiring, and, yes, we would all agree that we should not boast especially understanding that not one of us is perfect. But, to whom would this bragging occur? As mentioned, you and I have met people who boast. It can be draining, and it can make others seek to shop elsewhere for friends.

The boasting that Paul is speaking of, however, is boasting to God.* No one can boast to God.* Even if David and Abraham had good works to share, they could not have positioned themselves to boast. How many of us do this though? How many of us say to God, “I did ______, so you owe me!” This is foolish and lacks perspective. All need God, even Father Abraham and King David. Can you imagine telling God about your accomplishments (past, present, and future), the people they know or hung out with or met once, and then hoping that God feels that you are a big deal? Silliness.

In the words of D. J. Moo:

The key point in what David says in Psalm 32 for Paul is that the people who are blessed are not those who have earned something from God; they are the ones who have received something from him. Their transgressions are forgiven, their sins “covered,” and God does not hold their sin against them. That these people continue to sin is obvious, but God does not hold their sin against them. He accepts them and blesses them. 

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to stop boasting to others or to Him. Perhaps today God wants you to receive something from Him. Maybe God wants you to remember that He has given you much that you must receive.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 201–208). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 104–107). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 95).
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 195). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 146). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Romans 3.2

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

This may seem random, but I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I’ll even take on a peanut butter sandwich if the jelly isn’t available (I like to live life dangerously, I know). No matter if the jelly is present or not, it seems to always be the peanut butter getting stuck in my beard. Moving on to other things…

Paul refers to righteousness as, “the process by which God acts to put people in right relationship with himself.”* Think about that for one minute. God acts to make us righteous with himself. We see here that God does all of the work! Look at all of the religions (American Christianity included) that work so hard to make things right with God. When things aren’t going our way, or even when they are going our way (for fear of that changing), we attempt to do everything right to please him. We read our Bibles “enough,” we pray “a lot,” we engage in spiritual disciplines, and we go to a church building weekly. These things are good and important, but Paul has aptly demonstrated the inability of all mankind (Jew and Gentile) of establishing righteousness on their own.*

Paul links the faith of man required to the faithfulness of Christ.* God requires mankind to put their faith in Jesus to receive His gift of salvation, but this is only possible because of the faithfulness of Christ while on earth.* Again, think about this. Had Christ not first put faith in His Father, any faith that we put in Him would have been fruitless and futile. Even so, we still would not have been able to obey the law enough to step into right standing with God.

Our inability to fully obey the law for the purpose of salvation does not negate the law. Just because God makes us righteousness by grace, apart from the law, it does not mean grace opposes the law.* The two work together to show us our sin (the law) and then to cure it (grace by faith).

Back to my sandwiches... When I get peanut butter stuck in my beard, my wife, like the law, tells me that I have peanut butter in my beard. It’s only by the grace of her outstretched hand that my peanut butter is wiped away clean, for I cannot see my own face to take care of it myself.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask Him if there are parts of the law that you have ignored because you “walk in grace.” Perhaps He wants you to look at areas of your life where you have trusted your ability to keep the law instead of His grace. Maybe today is a day to remember that His faith, His work, and His process are what bring you to right standing with Him. Perhaps today it’s time to allow Him to “remove the peanut butter.”

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 179–185). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 91–92). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 95).
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 175–176). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 126). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: water break

Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

When does thanks end? When does the conversation of gratitude close? Psalm 106:1 reminds us that the gratitude and thanks that we have for the Lord should relate to the eternal existence of His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love. Because His love, faithfulness, and goodness have no end, neither should our gratitude.

The Psalmist commands us to, “praise the Lord!” This is the response to the knowledge of the wonderful nature of God. If we find ourselves not praising Him, or withholding thanks to Him, it may be that we have lost sight of His goodness, faithfulness, or love. He does not change; people do.*

Today might be a good day to praise. It’s been hard? It’s a good day to praise Him. It’s been a long time coming? It’s a good day to praise Him. Praising God is not a denial of difficulty; it’s an acknowledgement of His transcendent and eternal goodness, love, and faithfulness.

Praising God sounds like, “this hurts, this is hard, I’m tired, I can’t see a way forward… but O how good You are Lord! I am thankful that you never change. I’m thankful that you love me forever no matter what. I know you will help me through this mess. Be my strength O God!”

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember who He is. Perhaps today He wants you to praise even if you don’t feel like it. Perhaps there is some gratitude that He would like you to express.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*VanGemeren, W. A. (2008). Psalms. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms (Revised Edition) (Vol. 5, pp. 780–781). Zondervan.

one step: water break

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

The cares and worries of this life come in differing shapes and sizes. Some of these cares are as simple as burning a Thanksgiving turkey. Other anxieties come through heavier matters such as an empty seat at the table due to a lost loved one.

Finances. Work. Vacation. Sickness. Relationships. Challenges. The unknown. Fear. These things make us anxious.

What do we do about these things? Often we attempt to push these emotions down, medicate with comforts, attempt to control, or overcompensate with an act that fools no one.

Paul suggests something else: just stop it.

Well, there’s a little more to it than that. Stop being anxious and pray. We have to engage our will to disengage our efforts to figure out, assess, and control; we must engage our will to bring these things to God. It’s a redistribution of effort, focus, and belief. We must believe (trust) that bringing these things to God will do more for us than obsessing over them ourselves.

The type of prayers that Paul refers to gives us a clue on what this looks like in our lives: immediate needs brought to God (to stop worrying about yourself), intercession for others (allows us to stop worrying for those we care about), and for needs (things that you see coming in the future).*

The peace of God is the opposite of anxiety., and it will guard our hearts.* This means that anxiety leaves us exposed. Bringing our needs and the needs of those we care about before God protects us in a way that we cannot protect ourselves. It brings us His peace - a peace that is so great and so steady that it doesn’t even make sense.

How do we get there? Why is this so hard some times? All of this must happen with a heart of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving recognizes that what you have comes from somewhere else. Thanksgiving is an act of humility. Thanksgiving is a recognition that you cannot supply yourself with what you need. The anxiety that comes from trying to fix or change or protect whatever you care about requires a certain level of pride that says, “I can do this.” It’s time to let go of that belief. It’s time to be humble. It’s time to walk in thanksgiving and pray and trust.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask God to forgive you for attempting to take care of things yourself. Perhaps God wants you to stop what you are doing and pray. Maybe today is a day to be thankful.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Hansen, G. W. (2009). The Letter to the Philippians (pp. 289–295). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Fee, G. D. (1999). Philippians (Vol. 11, pp. 172–177). IVP Academic.

one step: water break

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

The loss of a loved one. Financial strain. Broken communication. Failed efforts. These are a few of the circumstances that we can find ourselves in. These are some of the circumstances that God had in mind when He provided us the instruction to “give thanks in all circumstances.”

It’s hard to consider gratitude when life feels as hard as it often does. The Thanksgiving season comes around at the same time every year no matter what is going on in our lives. Seldom does it come around and everything in my life is easy or as I would hope. Yet, there is Thanksgiving, forcing me to sit at a table with others and describe at least one way in which I am thankful.

God asks us to give thanks to Him in all circumstances. This is an important distinction from for all circumstances (as some would wrongly interpret this verse).* No matter the moment, no matter what is going on in our lives on Thanksgiving day, God wills that we give thanks in all circumstances.

How can we do this? Admittedly, it’s not easy, especially if our circumstances involve pain. God wills that we give thanks in all circumstances because it shifts our perspective from our vantage point to His.* In the very least, we can be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus (which is not a small thing). We can be grateful that though life is hard, He is with us. We can be grateful that everything lasts no longer than a season, so we know that the difficulty will have an end. There is some relief in that thought that I am thankful for.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to see what is before you to be thankful for. Perhaps God wants you to see what is in Him. Maybe God wants you to remember to be grateful even in the good times.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 259–260). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 169–171). InterVarsity Press.