Romans 3:27
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith."
The previous verses in this chapter, speak of the righteousness of God given by faith alone because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (v. 23). Related also to Paul's statement in this letter to the Romans was the emphasis of not having the power or right to judge others. In reading this the Holy Spirit convicts the reader to see that we have no right to boast of something that we had no part in gaining. There was never anything we did to receive the grace of God. Every man is a sinner from birth and because we are living by faith and according to God's mercy there is no law in which we can boast. Jesus Christ, taking away the sins of the world with His death and resurrection has fulfilled the law, and the faith we have in believing this, is all we can offer. Because of His love and passion for His creation, our Father in Heaven has shown us the true power of faith, and believing in Him.
As I am in Costa Rica I am shown more and more how works and acts of service are not what save people. Costa Rica was recently was surveyed and found as the happiest country in the world. Everyone's happy, and nice! No fear, no army, no hurt, no problems, right? Wrong. There is so much more to this place than beaches and tourist surf shops. There are the Ticos(Costa Ricans), struggling to buy groceries that cost the same as the United States while they receive a salary that is about half of the minimum wage of the States. There are illegal immigrants from Nicaragua, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, living 4 families in one house to escape the trouble in their own country, just to find that trouble is everywhere. I have seen just a glimpse of the trials these people endure since I have been here in early October. And my heart breaks for these people. They are happy, yes, but there are so many searching souls that don't have the love of a merciful and forgiving God. Their Catholic backgrounds don't reveal to them the true mercy and peace that comes with Jesus Christ, and their actions are what they boast in. They're "happy", but they're not at peace. There is only so much that can be boasted in with works, and thankfully, God shows us the true boasting is only able to be done in the faith we have in Jesus Christ.
This week I want to be able to share Christ with one of the kids in the Potter's Field Program without putting the emphasis on works. I want to show them the healing God can give that comes through believing in Him.
