March 12

Romans 2:12-24

Apostle Paul was a highly educated Jew.  He became a Pharisee, and in his young life he zealously persecuted the early Christians, believing it to be his duty.  In spite of this God chose him to carry the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. 

Many Jewish Christians believed that the Gentiles must first accept the Jewish law before they could become Christians.  Paul rejected this position.  In the second chapter of his letter to the Romans Paul points out that “if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God” and know God’s will and know what is best according to the law, but do not, in fact, follow the law, you dishonor God by breaking the law.  On the other hand, Gentiles, who are not bound by the law, but do instinctively what the law requires, are justified. 

In today’s life it is easy to call ourselves Christians, go to church every Sunday and read the Bible every day, and yet come up well short in applying Christ’s teachings in our other activities.  We think primarily of ourselves, shade the truth if it’s to our advantage and make excuses to avoid things that we ought to do but don’t want to. 

Think how much better the world would be if we all did instinctively what the law requires.