For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8: 3-4

Last month, CNN featured a news item about a High School Valedictorian, Arthur Myokan, 17 years old who together with his family were due for deportation to Armenia 10 days from his graduation. They have exhausted all legal remedies of their case and the judge already ruled against their petition. According to Virginia Kice, Public Information Officer of Immigration and Customs Office, “it’s a simple matter of enforcing the law.” The law is the law, this is why I was told, that lady justice who holds the scale of justice, has blindfold because the law should not discriminate and should be applied to all equally. As far as the current immigration law is concern, everything is close to Arthur Myokan. But there was one remedy, his Senator in California, Dianne Feinstein filed a bill which if passed will become another law that will save him and his family from deportation. Although according to CNN, of the 21 private immigration bills introduced last year, none was enacted. None of the 117 introduced was enacted in 2006. The year prior, 98 were introduced, and four were enacted.  (June 11, 2008 CNN). We do not know the result yet of this bill but the filling itself is an attempt to remedy the requirement of the law.

The idea of satisfying the requirement of the law helps us understand Paul’s explanation on what God has done for us through Christ. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law on our behalf so that we can be free. The difference between Myokan’s case and our case is that he is still waiting for the outcome of the bill filed by his senator while for us the result has been out long time ago when Christ died and rose again for us.

What do all of these have to do with our life today? It means we should not spend our energy worrying whether God will forgive us. Instead what we should be concerned about is how we should live our lives according to the Spirit. From time to time, we encounter people who ask us bluntly, “Are you saved, brother or sister?” Our answer should be a definitive and a bold YES. We were saved by Christ on the cross, long time ago! Christ paid for what has been required by the law. What we do today is seeking a closer communion with God as we grow towards spiritual maturity and in the fullness of our faith in the risen Lord.

Prayer

Requirements satisfied,

   this is what you have done for us

     as far as the law is concern.

 Walk according to the Spirit

   this is what you require of us.

Thanks to be you, O God. Amen.

[Like a seed planted in the soil, it is our prayer that God's Word will grow in us as we nurture it in our hearts. Allow the seed to germinate. Your reflections and responses are welcome. Please click on the Add a new comment icon below.] Past Daily Devotions are archived at the bottom of the Sermons page.