Today’s Bible Verses: Romans 5:20–21 ESV

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If a judge shows criminal grace in court, he or she could be called “soft on crime.” Yet that is what God is toward us. We are recidivists when it comes to sin since we do it all the time. But God doesn’t condemn us to the outer darkness. Instead, as repentant sinners, we stand before His throne and pray for forgiveness. Our God looks at us not as the sinners we are, but as His children redeemed through Jesus Christ. He graciously grants us forgiveness even though we broke His Law. As Christians, we thank God for His grace and forgiveness, though we deserve nothing but punishment.

PRAYERS

Keep in Your Prayers:

1. All people incarcerated in our local jails.

2. Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Prayer for Tuesday:

Loving Father, continue to make the issue of life preeminent in all of our churches. Make us stewards to goodness to tell all people the Gospel of Jesus, which is the story of life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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